FDA Approves Oral Aloxi to Prevent Chemo Nausea and Vomiting

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an oral formulation of Aloxi® (palonosetron) to prevent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.  A single 5 milligram capsule reduces the risk of nausea during the first 24 hours after chemotherapy and for up to five days afterwards.  The medicine is taken about an hour before chemotherapy starts.

The most common side effects were headache, experienced by about four percent of patients and constipation in less than one percent.

Information from the FDA about the new oral Aloxi approval.

Intravenous Aloxi has been available since 2003 to manage both acute nausea and vomiting in the hours after chemotherapy and delayed nausea during following days.

The patient brochure for IV Aloxi provides additional help to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea including avoiding:

• Solid food right before and after treatment
• Caffeine and alcohol
• Spicy or greasy foods
• Cooking odors, smoke, perfume
• Your favorite foods after receiving chemotherapy so they don’t become triggers for nausea
• Unpleasant sights, sounds, and smells that might trigger nausea
• strenuous exercise

The brochure also suggests

• Eat lightly on the day of treatment.
• Eat several small meals during the day instead
  of large ones.
• Drink cool, clear fluids, such as sports drinks,
  ginger ale, or lemon-lime sodas.
• Eat foods that are cool or at room temperature.
• Eat bland foods (dry toast or soda crackers).
• Take care of your mouth.
• Take part in hobbies or practice relaxation techniques.

The makers of Aloxi also provide a calendar that helps patients record vomiting, nausea, and how they felt in the days after chemotherapy.  The information can then be shared with the doctor or oncology nurse.