Brand Name: Aloxi®
Active Ingredient: palonosetron
Strength(s): 0.25 mg in 5 mL
Dosage Form(s): Injection
Company Name: Helsinn Healthcare
Availability: Prescription only
Date Approved by FDA: July 25, 2003

What is Aloxi used for?

Aloxi is used to prevent nausea and vomiting that happens:

• right away with certain anti-cancer medicines (chemotherapy).
• later after taking certain anti-cancer medicines

Aloxi is not used to treat the nausea and vomiting you may already have. Aloxi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age.

Who should not take Aloxi?

Do not take Aloxi if you are allergic to Aloxi or any of its ingredients.

General Precautions with Aloxi: 

• If you are allergic to other medicines like Aloxi, such as ondansetron (Zofran®), dolasetron (Anzemet®), or granisetron (Kytril®), you are more likely to have an allergic reaction with Aloxi.
• Aloxi may affect your heartbeat. This may cause serious problems, especially in people who:
  • already have heartbeat problems or irregular heartbeat (especially a condition called QT prolongation)
  • are taking medicine to control a heartbeat problem
  • are taking medicines called diuretics ("water pills")
  • have low levels of potassium and magnesium in their blood

What should I tell my health care provider?

Tell your health care provider:

• if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
• if you are breast-feeding.

Tell your health care provider about ALL the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how Aloxi works or Aloxi may affect how your other medicines work.

What are some possible side effects of Aloxi? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Aloxi. Your health care provider or pharmacist can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)

Some common side effects with Aloxi include:

• headache
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• tiredness
• stomach area pain
• trouble sleeping

  Posted 12/18/03

  Updated 12/04