Aprepitant: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Aprepitant is a substance p/neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Substance P/Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist
- Available as
- Injectable · Emulsion · Capsule · Powder · Kit
- Sold as
- 2 products — Cinvanti and Emend
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Not in our catalog
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $2071 for a 30-count supply — not your price
How Cinvanti is dosed
From the FDA label for Cinvanti (application NDA209296). Other aprepitant products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Recommended Dosage ( 2.1 ): Administer CINVANTI intravenously as an injection over 2 minutes or an infusion over 30 minutes; complete the injection or infusion approximately 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy. HEC and MEC (Single-Dose Regimen) : The recommended dosage in adults is 130 mg on Day 1. MEC (3-Day Regimen) : The recommended dosage in adults is 100 mg on Day 1. Aprepitant capsules (80 mg) are given orally on Days 2 and 3. CINVANTI is part of a regimen that includes a corticosteroid and a 5-HT 3 antagonist. Preparation : See the full prescribing information for instructions. ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting Associated with HEC and MEC The recommended dosages in adults of CINVANTI, dexamethasone, and a 5-HT 3 antagonist for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with administration of HEC or MEC are shown in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3 respectively. Administer CINVANTI intravenously either by injection over a two (2) minute period or by infusion over a thirty (30) minute period on Day 1, completing the injection or infusion approximately 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy. Table 1. Recommended Dosage of CINVANTI for the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting Associated with HEC (Single-Dose Regimen) Agent Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 CINVANTI 130 mg intravenously None None None Dexamethasone Administer dexamethasone 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy treatment…
Everything below is the FDA label for Cinvanti (injectable, emulsion). Aprepitant is also sold as capsule, powder and kit, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Cinvanti side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Most common adverse reactions are: Single-dose fosaprepitant with MEC (≥2%): fatigue, diarrhea, neutropenia, asthenia, anemia, peripheral neuropathy, leukopenia, dyspepsia, urinary tract infection, pain in extremity. ( 6.1 ) 3-day oral aprepitant with MEC (≥1% and greater than standard therapy): fatigue and eructation. ( 6.1 ) Single-dose fosaprepitant with HEC: generally similar to 3-day oral aprepitant. In addition, infusion site reactions (3%) occurred. ( 6.1 ) Single-dose CINVANTI (≥2%): headache and fatigue. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Heron Therapeutics, Inc. at 1-844-437-6611 and www.CINVANTI.com or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. The safety of CINVANTI was evaluated as a single-dose in healthy subjects and established from adequate and well-controlled studies of intravenous fosaprepitant and/or oral aprepitant [see Clinical Studies (14) ] . Adverse reactions observed in…
Who shouldn’t take Cinvanti
CINVANTI is contraindicated in patients: who are hypersensitive to any component of the product [see Description (11) ] . Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis have been reported [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) , Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . taking pimozide. Inhibition of CYP3A4 by aprepitant could result in elevated plasma concentrations of pimozide, which is a CYP3A4 substrate, potentially causing serious or life-threatening reactions, such as QT prolongation, a known adverse reaction of pimozide [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Known hypersensitivity to any component of this drug. ( 4 , 5.2 ) Concurrent use with pimozide. ( 4 )
Cinvanti drug interactions
See full prescribing information for a list of clinically significant drug interactions. ( 4 , 5.1 , 5.3 , 5.4 , 7.1 , 7.2 ) 7.1 Effect of Aprepitant on the Pharmacokinetics of Other Drugs Aprepitant is a substrate, weak-to-moderate (dose-dependent) inhibitor, and an inducer of CYP3A4. Aprepitant is also an inducer of CYP2C9 [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Some substrates of CYP3A4 are contraindicated with CINVANTI [see Contraindications (4) ] . Dosage adjustment of some CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 substrates may be warranted, as shown in Table 8. Table 8. Effects of Aprepitant on the Pharmacokinetics of Other Drugs CYP3A4 Substrates Pimozide Clinical Impact Increased pimozide exposure. Intervention CINVANTI is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) ] . Benzodiazepines Clinical Impact Increased exposure to midazolam or other benzodiazepines metabolized via CYP3A4 (alprazolam, triazolam) may increase the risk of adverse reactions [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention Monitor for benzodiazepine-related adverse reactions. Dexamethasone Clinical Impact Increased dexamethasone exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention Reduce the dose of oral dexamethasone by approximately 50% [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ] . Methylprednisolone Clinical Impact Increased methylprednisolone exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention Reduce the dose of oral methylprednisolone by approximately 50% on Days 1 and 2 for patients receiving HEC and on Day 1 for patients receiving MEC. Reduce the dose of intravenous methylprednisolone by 25% on Days 1 and 2 for patients receiving HEC and on Day 1 for patients receiving MEC. Chemotherapeutic Agents that are Metabolized by CYP3A4 Clinical Impact Increased exposure of the chemotherapeutic agent may increase the risk of adverse reactions [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention Vinblastine, vincristine, or ifosfamide or other chemotherapeutic agents Monitor for chemotherapeutic-related adverse reactions. Etoposide, vinorelbine, paclitaxel, and docetaxel No dosage adjustment needed. Hormonal Contraceptives Clinical Impact Decreased hormonal exposure during administration of and for 28 days after administration of the last dose of aprepitant [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) , Use in Specific Populations (8.3) , and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention Effective alternative or back-up methods of contraception (such as condoms or spermicides) should be used during treatment with CINVANTI and for 1 month following administration of CINVANTI or oral aprepitant, whichever is administered last. Examples birth control pills, skin patches, implants, and certain IUDs CYP2C9 Substrates Warfarin Clinical Impact Decreased warfarin exposure and decreased prothrombin time (INR) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention In patients on chronic warfarin therapy, monitor the prothrombin time (INR) in the 2-week period, particularly at 7 to 10 days, following administration of CINVANTI with each chemotherapy cycle. Other Antiemetic Agents 5-HT 3 Antagonists Clinical Impact No change in the exposure of the 5-HT 3 antagonist [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Intervention No dosage adjustment needed. Examples ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron 7.2 Effect of Other Drugs on the Pharmacokinetics of Aprepitant Aprepitant is a CYP3A4 substrate [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Co-administration of CINVANTI with drugs that are inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 may result in increased or decreased plasma concentrations of aprepitant, respectively, as shown in Table 9. Table 9. Effects of Other Drugs on Pharmacokinetics of Aprepitant Moderate to Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors Clinical Impact Significantly increased exposure of aprepitant may increase the risk of adverse reactions associated with CINVANTI [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Intervention Avoid concomitant use of CINVANTI. Examples Moderate inhibitor : diltiazem Strong inhibitors : ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, ritonavir, nelfinavir Strong CYP3A4 Inducers Clinical Impact Substantially decreased exposure of aprepitant in patients chronically taking a strong CYP3A4 inducer may decrease the efficacy of CINVANTI [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Intervention Avoid concomitant use of CINVANTI. Examples rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin
Every aprepitant product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $2071 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $2071 | View → |
What aprepitant pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Aprepitant recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
How long aprepitant keeps
The date on a sealed pack is not the only one: some aprepitant labels start a second clock once the product is opened or mixed, as short as 72 hours.
Does aprepitant expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about aprepitant
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 7,203 reports naming aprepitant, and the FDA flagged 96% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- fatigue1,147 reports
- nausea1,043 reports
- pyrexia884 reports
- alopecia806 reports
- dyspnoea747 reports
- diarrhoea730 reports
- rash726 reports
- vomiting673 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean aprepitant caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Cinvanti?
Cinvanti (Aprepitant) is a substance p/neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist.
What kind of drug is aprepitant?
The FDA classifies aprepitant as a substance p/neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take aprepitant with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run aprepitant against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is aprepitant sold under?
We track 2 aprepitant-containing products in the U.S.: Cinvanti and Emend. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does aprepitant come in?
Across the brands we track, aprepitant is currently marketed as injectable, emulsion, capsule, powder and kit, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic aprepitant?
We do not currently list a generic-labelled aprepitant product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.
Has aprepitant been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 1 recall record whose product description mentions aprepitant. The most recent: Merck Emend (aprepitant) for oral suspension (Dec 12, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Aprepitant: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/aprepitant
- MLA
- “Aprepitant: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/aprepitant.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for aprepitant on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.