• Christina H Ruhlmann and Jørn Herrstedt.
• Odense University Hospital, Department of Oncology, Sdr. Boulevard 29, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark. christina.ruhlmann@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk
• Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2011 May 1; 10 (3): 449-62.

IntroductionAprepitant is the only neurokinin (NK(1)) receptor antagonist (RA) approved for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Aprepitant is co-administered with a 5-HT(3) RA and a corticosteroid. Although aprepitant is safe, in most clinical settings potential drug-drug interactions need to be considered before prescription.Areas CoveredThis article thoroughly reviews aprepitant and, in particular, clinically relevant safety aspects of the drug. The literature review was performed using Medline with the following search terms: adverse events, aprepitant, chemotherapy, CYP3A4, MK-0869, neurokinin(1) receptor antagonist, safety and tolerability.Expert OpinionThe recommended antiemetic regimen of aprepitant, a 5-HT(3) RA and a corticosteroid is safe. The combination of aprepitant, a 5-HT(3) RA and dexamethasone is now the gold standard of antiemetic treatment in prevention of CINV induced by HEC, or by the combination of an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide. The intravenous formulation of aprepitant used as a single dose is expected to be of benefit to cancer patients.

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