Dolasetron

Dolasetron is an antinauseant and antiemetic agent used to prevent nausea and vomiting that may be caused by surgery or by medicine to treat cancer (chemotherapy).

• Dolasetron is available under the following different brand names: Anzemet

Common side effects of Dolasetron include:

• headache
• constipation
• tiredness
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• diarrhea
• upset stomach
• loss of appetite
• chills
• shivering
• numbness or tingly feeling
• fever
• sweating
• rash
• joint or muscle pain

Serious side effects of Dolasetron include:

• hives
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• headache with chest pain and severe dizziness
• fainting
• fast or pounding heartbeats
• lightheadedness
• slow heart rate
• weak pulse
• slow breathing
• swelling in the hands or feet
• little or no urinating
• agitation
• hallucinations
• fever
• overactive reflexes
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• loss of coordination

Rare side effects of Dolasetron include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, coordination loss, unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Injectable solution

• 20 mg/mL

Tablet

• 50 mg
• 100 mg

Cancer chemotherapy-induced nausea & vomiting (CINV)

Adult and geriatric dosage

• Oral: 100 mg orally 1 hour before chemotherapy
• Note: IV administration is no longer indicated for CINV because of the risk of QT prolongation

Pediatric dosage

• Children younger than 2 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children aged between 2 and 16 years: 1.8 mg/kg orally 1 hour before chemotherapy; not to exceed 100 mg/dose
• IV may be administered orally in children aged 2 to 16 years: 1.8 mg/kg orally 1 hour before chemotherapy; not to exceed 100 mg/dose
• Note: IV administration is no longer indicated for CINV because of the risk of QT prolongation

Post-op nausea & vomiting (PONV)

Adult and geriatric dosage

• IV: 12.5 mg IV 15 minutes before the cessation of anesthesia or as soon as N/V presents
• Note: Oral tablets are no longer indicated for PONV

Pediatric dosage

• Children younger than 2 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children aged 2 years and older: IV: 0.35 mg/kg 15 minutes before the cessation of anesthesia or as soon as N/V develops; not to exceed 12.5 mg/dose
• IV may be administered orally in children aged 2 to 16 years: 1.2 mg/kg orally administered within 2 hours before surgery; not to exceed 100 mg/dose
• Note: Oral tablets are no longer indicated for PONV

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacist first.

• Dolasetron has severe interactions with the following drug:
  • apomorphine
• Dolasetron has serious interactions with at least 88 other drugs
• Dolasetron has moderate interactions with at least 131 other drugs
• Dolasetron has minor interactions with the following drugs:
  • azithromycin
  • pazopanib

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, health questions, or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Coadministration with apomorphine; combination reported to cause profound hypotension and loss of consciousness
• IV administration for CINV because of the risk for QT, PR, and QRS prolongation

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dolasetron?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dolasetron?”

Cautions

• Patients at risk for prolongation of cardiac conduction intervals, particularly long QTc interval, congenital long QT syndrome, uncorrected hypokalemia, or hypomagnesemia, or receiving other QT-prolonging drugs
• Serotonin syndrome reported with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists alone but particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs including SSRIs, SNRIs, MAO inhibitors, lithium, tramadol, methylene blue IV, and mirtazapine
• Correct hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia before administration
• Use electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring in patients with congestive heart failure, bradycardia, underlying heart disease, renal impairment, or who are elderly

Pregnancy and Lactation

• May be acceptable during pregnancy
• Lactation
  • Not known whether distributed into breast milk, use caution