Dolasetron Mesylate Injection (patient information)

About your treatment
Your doctor has ordered dolasetron to prevent nausea and vomiting that may be caused by cancer chemotherapy or to treat nausea and vomiting caused by anesthesia. The drug will be either injected directly into your vein over 30 seconds or added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for at least 15 minutes. It is given about 30 minutes before chemotherapy or shortly before the end of your surgery. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication.

Precautions
Before administering dolasetron:


 * tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dolasetron, granisetron (Kytril), odansetron (Zofran), or any other drugs.
 * tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), astemizole (Hismanal), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), disopyramide (Norpace, Norpace CR), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), flecainide (Tambocor), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), imipramine (Tofranil), medications used to treat arrhythmias (especially amiodarone [Cordarone]), moricizine (Ethmozine), norptriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), perphenazine (Trilafon), procainamide (Procan SR, Pronestyl, and others), propafenone (Rythmol), protriptline (Vivactil), quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute, and others), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), sotalol (Betapace)], thioridazine (Mellaril), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), trimipramine (Surmontil), and vitamins.
 * tell your doctor if you have or ever had heart or liver disease, irregular heartbeats, low potassium levels, or low magnesium levels.
 * tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking dolasetron, call your doctor.

Administering your medication
Before you administer dolasetron, look at the solution closely. It should be clear and free of floating material. Gently squeeze the bag or observe the solution container to make sure there are no leaks. Do not use the solution if it is discolored, if it contains particles, or if the bag or container leaks. Use a new solution, but show the damaged one to your health care provider.

It is important that you use your medication exactly as directed. Do not change your dosing schedule without talking to your health care provider. Your health care provider may tell you to stop your infusion if you have a mechanical problem (such as a blockage in the tubing, needle, or catheter); if you have to stop an infusion, call your health care provider immediately so your therapy can continue.

Minor side effects
Dolasetron may cause side effects. Tell your health care provider if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:


 * headache
 * diarrhea
 * constipation
 * dizziness
 * drowsiness
 * fever
 * chills
 * difficulty urinating

Severe side effects
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your health care provider immediately:


 * chest pain
 * irregular heartbeat
 * fainting
 * difficulty breathing
 * rash

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storing your medication
Your health care provider will probably give you a 1- to 2-day supply of dolasetron at a time. Depending on the number of days supplied, you will be told to store it at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If you store your dolasetron in the refrigerator, take your next dose from the refrigerator 1 hour before using it; place it in a clean, dry area to allow it to warm to room temperature.

Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand what you need to store your medication properly.Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of reach of children. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles, syringes, tubing, and containers to avoid accidental injury.

In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Signs of infection
If you are receiving dolasetron in your vein or under your skin, you need to know the symptoms of a catheter-related infection (an infection where the needle enters your vein or skin). If you experience any of these effects near your intravenous catheter, tell your health care provider as soon as possible:


 * tenderness
 * warmth
 * irritation
 * drainage
 * redness
 * swelling
 * pain

Brand names

 * Anzemet®