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Aprepitant

Aprepitant is a nausea-prevention medicine (an NK1 receptor blocker) used with other anti-nausea drugs to prevent nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy, and, in some products, nausea and vomiting after surgery.

Brand names EmendCinvantiAponvie
Drug class Substance P/neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist
Rx Forms 3
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 6 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

Aprepitant at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Aprepitant (Emend) prevents nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, and in some products after surgery, by blocking substance P, a brain chemical that triggers vomiting; it is a standard add-on to other anti-nausea medicines, on the market since about 2003 and available generically. Most people tolerate it well, and tiredness, hiccups and mild indigestion are what they tend to notice. The real concern is interactions, because it changes how the body handles many drugs, so never combine it with pimozide and get warfarin and hormonal birth control checked first. It prevents nausea rather than treating it, so it is started before chemotherapy or surgery, not once sickness sets in.

Clinical pearls

  • Hormonal birth control may work less well during treatment and for a month after, so use condoms as a back-up.
  • If you take warfarin, expect extra INR (clotting) blood tests for about two weeks after starting, since aprepitant can lower it.
  • Tell anyone prescribing an antifungal or antibiotic, since ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin and rifampin should be avoided with it.
  • It boosts the effect of dexamethasone and ondansetron, so the steroid dose in your anti-nausea plan may be lowered on purpose.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asCapsule, Injection, Oral suspension
Earliest FDA record2003
Companies listing it with the FDA7
FDA label last updatedJul 5, 2024
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Aprepitant, written from its FDA label.

What Aprepitant is used for

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Aprepitant is used to prevent nausea and vomiting. The approved uses vary by product.

  • Emend oral suspension: prevents nausea and vomiting from highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC, including high-dose cisplatin) and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC), in patients 6 months and older, with other anti-nausea drugs.
  • Emend capsules and aprepitant capsules: the same chemotherapy uses, in patients 12 and older.
  • Aprepitant capsules: also prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery in adults.
  • Cinvanti (intravenous): prevents nausea and vomiting from HEC and MEC in adults, as a single-dose or (for MEC) 3-day regimen.
  • Aponvie (intravenous): prevents nausea and vomiting after surgery in adults.

None of these products has been studied for treating nausea and vomiting that has already begun.

How Aprepitant works

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Aprepitant blocks substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors. Substance P is a brain chemical involved in triggering vomiting. Aprepitant crosses into the brain and occupies these receptors.

It does not act on serotonin, dopamine or corticosteroid receptors, which other anti-nausea drugs target. It adds to the effect of ondansetron and dexamethasone and helps with both early and delayed vomiting after cisplatin.

Aprepitant dosage

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How aprepitant is given depends on the product. Follow your prescriber and the label.

  • Capsules (Emend, aprepitant): swallowed whole, with or without food. For chemotherapy, taken about 1 hour before treatment over 3 days. Aprepitant capsules for surgery are taken once before anesthesia.
  • Emend oral suspension: prepared by a healthcare provider, then given by a provider, patient or caregiver, with or without food.
  • Cinvanti and Aponvie: given into a vein by a healthcare provider.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Aprepitant prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • EMEND capsules: prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with HEC or MEC in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older
    • 125 mg orally on Day 1 and 80 mg orally on Days 2 and 3. Administer 1 hour prior to chemotherapy on Days 1, 2, and 3
    • If no chemotherapy is given on Days 2 and 3, administer in the morning
    • Swallow capsules whole; can be taken with or without food
  • EMEND for oral suspension: pediatric patients 6 months to less than 12 years of age or pediatric and adult patients unable to swallow capsules
    • 3 mg/kg orally on Day 1 (maximum 125 mg)
    • 2 mg/kg orally on Day 2 (maximum 80 mg)
    • 2 mg/kg orally on Day 3 (maximum 80 mg)
    • Administer 1 hour prior to chemotherapy on Days 1, 2, and 3
    • If no chemotherapy is given on Days 2 and 3, administer in the morning
    • Maximum: 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg on Days 2 and 3
    • Weight-based; dosing in pediatric patients less than 6 kg is not recommended; final concentration 25 mg/mL; can be taken with or without food
  • CINVANTI: HEC and MEC (single-dose regimen) in adults
    • 130 mg intravenously on Day 1, as an injection over 2 minutes or an infusion over 30 minutes, completed approximately 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy
    • Part of a regimen with a corticosteroid and a 5-HT3 antagonist
  • CINVANTI: MEC (3-day regimen) in adults
    • 100 mg intravenously on Day 1, completed approximately 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy
    • Aprepitant capsules 80 mg orally on Days 2 and 3
    • Part of a regimen with a corticosteroid and a 5-HT3 antagonist
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Recommended Dosage ( 2.1 ) EMEND capsules in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older: is 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg on Days 2 and 3. EMEND for oral suspension in pediatric patients 6 months to less than 12 years of age or pediatric and adult patients unable to swallow capsules: see dosing recommendations in Table 3 in the Full Prescribing Information. Administer EMEND 1 hour prior to chemotherapy on Days 1, 2, and 3. If no chemotherapy is given on Days 2 and 3, administer EMEND in morning. See Full Prescribing Information for recommended dosages of concomitant dexamethasone and 5-HT 3 antagonist for HEC and MEC. Preparation and Administration ( 2.2 , 2.3 ) EMEND capsules and EMEND for oral suspension can be administered with or without food. Swallow EMEND capsules whole. EMEND for oral suspension should be prepared by healthcare provider. Once prepared, it may be administered either by a healthcare provider, patient, or caregiver. For details on preparation see Full Prescribing Information. 2.1 Recommended Dosage Adults and Pediatric Patients 12 Years of Age and Older The recommended oral dosage of EMEND capsules, dexamethasone, and a 5-HT 3 antagonist in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who can swallow oral capsules, for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with administration of HEC or MEC is shown in Table 1 or Table 2, respectively. For patients who cannot swallow oral capsules, EMEND for oral suspension can be used instead of EMEND capsules as shown in Table 3. Table 1: Recommended Dosing for the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting Associated with HEC Population Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 EMEND capsules Administer EMEND capsules 1 hour prior to chemotherapy treatment on Days 1, 2, and 3. If no chemotherapy is given on Days 2 and 3, administer EMEND capsules in the morning. Adults and Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older 125 mg orally 80 mg orally 80 mg orally none Dexamethasone Adults 12 mg orally 8 mg orally 8 mg orally 8 mg orally Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older If a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone, is co-administered, administer 50% of the recommended corticosteroid dose on Days 1 through 4 [see Clinical Studies (14.3) ] . Administer dexamethasone 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy treatment on Day 1 and in the morning on Days 2 through 4.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Aprepitant side effects

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Common side effects seen in studies include:

Common side effects

  • Tiredness or weakness (fatigue, asthenia)
  • Diarrhea
  • Indigestion and stomach pain
  • Hiccups
  • Low white blood cell count
  • Dehydration
  • Constipation (after surgery use)
  • Low blood pressure (after surgery use)
  • Raised liver enzyme (ALT) on blood tests
  • In children: low neutrophils, headache, decreased appetite, cough and dizziness

When to get medical help

  • Get emergency help for signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, swelling or trouble breathing.
  • Call your doctor right away about a severe skin rash or blistering or peeling skin. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported.
  • If you take warfarin, tell your doctor. Your blood clotting (INR) may need extra checking.
  • Call your doctor if you notice agitation or unusual behavior while getting ifosfamide chemotherapy.

Aprepitant warnings and precautions

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  • Drug interactions: aprepitant affects the CYP3A4 enzyme and can change levels of many other medicines.
  • Warfarin: INR may drop, so it should be monitored for about 2 weeks.
  • Hormonal birth control: may work less well during treatment and for 1 month after. Use a back-up method.
  • Allergic and skin reactions: anaphylaxis, hives, and serious skin reactions have been reported.
  • Long-term use: chronic continuous use of the capsules and Emend is not recommended.

Aprepitant interactions

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Aprepitant can interact with many medicines. Review your list with your pharmacist.

  • Pimozide: contraindicated, due to risk of serious heart rhythm problems.
  • Warfarin: aprepitant may lower INR.
  • Hormonal birth control: may be less effective.
  • Ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, nelfinavir, nefazodone, diltiazem: may raise aprepitant levels; avoid.
  • Rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin: may lower aprepitant levels; avoid.
  • Dexamethasone and methylprednisolone: levels rise with the 3-day regimen, so doses are reduced.
  • Midazolam, alprazolam, triazolam: levels may rise; monitoring is needed.
  • Vinblastine, vincristine, ifosfamide: monitor for chemotherapy side effects.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Aprepitant prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Pimozide: Increased pimozide exposure. Aprepitant is contraindicated.
  • Benzodiazepines (midazolam, alprazolam, triazolam): Increased exposure to midazolam or other benzodiazepines metabolized via CYP3A4 may increase the risk of adverse reactions. With the 3-day aprepitant regimen, monitor for benzodiazepine-related adverse reactions; depending on clinical situation (e.g., elderly patients) and degree of monitoring available, reduce the dose of intravenous midazolam. No dosage adjustment needed with a single 40 mg dose.
  • Dexamethasone: Increased dexamethasone exposure. With the 3-day aprepitant regimen, reduce the dose of oral dexamethasone by approximately 50%. No adjustment needed with a single 40 mg dose.
  • Methylprednisolone: Increased methylprednisolone exposure. With the 3-day regimen, reduce the dose of intravenous methylprednisolone by approximately 25% and oral methylprednisolone by approximately 50%. No adjustment needed with a single 40 mg dose.
  • Chemotherapeutic agents metabolized by CYP3A4 (vinblastine, vincristine, ifosfamide): Increased exposure of the chemotherapeutic agent may increase the risk of adverse reactions. Monitor for chemotherapeutic-related adverse reactions.
  • Etoposide, vinorelbine, paclitaxel, docetaxel: Increased exposure of CYP3A4-metabolized chemotherapeutic agents may increase the risk of adverse reactions. No dosage adjustment needed.
  • Hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, skin patches, implants, certain IUDs): Decreased hormonal exposure during administration of and for 28 days after the last dose of aprepitant. Use effective alternative or back-up methods of contraception (such as condoms and spermicides) during treatment and for 1 month following the last dose.
  • Warfarin: Decreased warfarin exposure and decreased prothrombin time (INR). In patients on chronic warfarin therapy, monitor the INR in the 2-week period, particularly at 7 to 10 days, following initiation of the 3-day regimen with each chemotherapy cycle, or following a single 40-mg dose.
  • Other 5-HT3 antagonists (ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron): No change in the exposure of the 5-HT3 antagonist. No dosage adjustment needed.
  • Moderate to strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (diltiazem, ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, ritonavir, nelfinavir): Significantly increased exposure of aprepitant may increase the risk of adverse reactions associated with aprepitant. Avoid concomitant use of aprepitant.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS See Full Prescribing Information for a list of clinically significant drug interactions. ( 4 , 5.1 , 5.2 , 5.3 , 7.1 , 7.2 ) 7.1 Effect of Aprepitant on the Pharmacokinetics of Other Drugs Aprepitant is a substrate, a weak-to-moderate (dose-dependent) inhibitor, and an inducer of CYP3A4. Aprepitant is also an inducer of CYP2C9 [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Aprepitant acts as a moderate inhibitor of CYP3A4 when administered as a 3-day regimen (125mg/80-mg/80-mg) and can increase plasma concentrations of concomitant drugs that are substrates for CYP3A4. Aprepitant acts as a weak inhibitor when administered as a single 40-mg dose and has not been shown to alter the plasma concentrations of concomitant drugs that are primarily metabolized through CYP3A4. Some substrates of CYP3A4 are contraindicated with aprepitant [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . Dosage adjustment of some CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 substrates may be warranted, as shown in Table 10. Table 10: Effects of Aprepitant on the Pharmacokinetics of Other Drugs CYP3A4 Substrates Pimozide Clinical Impact Increased pimozide exposure Intervention Aprepitant 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 3-day aprepitant regimen Monitor for benzodiazepine-related adverse reactions. Depending on the clinical situation (e.g., elderly patients) and degree of monitoring available, reduce the dose of intravenous midazolam Single 40 mg dose of aprepitant No dosage adjustment of the benzodiazepine needed Dexamethasone Clinical Impact Increased dexamethasone exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Intervention 3-day aprepitant regimen Reduce the dose of oral dexamethasone by approximately 50% [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 )].

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿158 supplements and herbs with documented Aprepitant interactions, ranked by severity Check Aprepitant against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Aprepitant

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  • Do not use if allergic to any component or if you take pimozide.
  • Tell your doctor if you take warfarin or hormonal birth control.
  • Pregnancy: not enough human data to know the risk.
  • Breastfeeding: not studied in human milk; discuss with your doctor.
  • Children: Emend oral suspension from 6 months; capsules for chemotherapy from age 12. Surgery use is not established in children.
  • Older adults: no differences in response were seen, but use caution.
  • Kidney problems: no dose adjustment needed, including dialysis.
  • Liver problems: no adjustment for mild to moderate; no data for severe, so extra monitoring may be needed.

Aprepitant overdose

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No specific treatment for overdose is known. One patient who took about 11 times the maximum recommended single dose had drowsiness and headache. If an overdose happens, aprepitant should be stopped and supportive care given. Vomiting may not work to empty the stomach, and dialysis does not remove aprepitant.

What Aprepitant does in the body

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At blood levels of about 10 and 100 ng/mL, aprepitant occupied roughly 50% and 90% of brain NK1 receptors. The chemotherapy regimen produces levels expected to give over 95% occupancy. The link between receptor occupancy and clinical benefit has not been established. Recommended oral dosing is not expected to affect the QT interval, a heart rhythm measure.

How your body processes Aprepitant

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Aprepitant is absorbed by mouth, reaching peak levels in about 3 to 4 hours. Absolute bioavailability is about 60 to 65% at the 80 to 125 mg range. A high-fat meal did not meaningfully change absorption of the capsule. It is heavily protein-bound and crosses into the brain.

The body breaks it down mostly through the liver enzyme CYP3A4. It is not cleared through the kidneys. The half-life is about 9 to 13 hours.

How to store Aprepitant

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Store at 20-25°C (68-77°F) . Store unopened pouch at 20-25°C (68-77°F); excursions permitted between 15-30°C (between 59-86°F). Store in the original container.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

158

Supplements & herbs that interact with Aprepitant

158 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Aprepitant in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 3
  • Moderate · 116
  • Minor · 39
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major GRAPEFRUIT Major ST. JOHN'S WORT Major ACACIA RIGIDULA Moderate ADRAFINIL Moderate AFRICAN WILD POTATO Moderate ALKANNA Moderate ALPINE RAGWORT Moderate +150 more
Every supplement checked against Aprepitant — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 3 major · 116 moderate · 39 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Aprepitant against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Aprepitant: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Aprepitant — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What is aprepitant actually for?

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It helps prevent nausea and vomiting. Depending on the product, that means nausea from chemotherapy (taken with other anti-nausea medicines) or nausea after surgery. It is not meant to treat nausea that has already started.

How do I take it?

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Capsules are swallowed whole, with or without food. For chemotherapy, you usually take them about an hour before treatment over about three days. For surgery, one dose is taken before anesthesia. Follow the schedule your prescriber gives you.

What side effects should I expect?

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Common ones include tiredness, diarrhea, indigestion, stomach pain and hiccups. After surgery, constipation and low blood pressure can happen. Call your doctor right away for hives, swelling, trouble breathing or a severe skin rash.

Does it affect my birth control?

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It can. Hormonal birth control may work less well while you take aprepitant and for 1 month after your last dose. Use a back-up method like condoms during that time.

Can I take it with my other medicines?

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Many interact with it. Never take it with pimozide. If you take warfarin, you will need extra clotting tests. Some antifungals, antibiotics and seizure medicines can change its levels, so go over your full list with me.

Is it safe in pregnancy or when breastfeeding?

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There is not enough information in pregnant women to know the risk. It has not been studied in human breast milk. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks for you.

Is Aprepitant available over the counter?

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No. Aprepitant is a prescription medicine: every Aprepitant product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Aprepitant first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Aprepitant is from 2003: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Aprepitant was first used.

Who makes Aprepitant?

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7 companies currently list Aprepitant products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, BluePoint Laboratories, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Aprepitant on HelloPharmacist

📊Aprepitant supplement interactions158 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerAprepitant vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Aprepitant NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Aprepitant Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Aprepitant forms and strengths (how it comes)

Aprepitant is available in 3 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Capsule

By mouth
Brands Emend
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Emend capsules are used with other anti-nausea drugs to prevent chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in patients 12 and older.
  • Aprepitant capsules are used for chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in patients 12 and older.
  • Aprepitant capsules are also used to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery in adults.
Important instructions
  • Emend capsules and aprepitant capsules are swallowed whole, with or without food.
  • For chemotherapy, Emend capsules and aprepitant capsules are taken 1 hour before chemotherapy on Days 1 to 3, or in the morning on days without chemotherapy.
  • For surgery, aprepitant capsules are taken within 3 hours before anesthesia.
Available strengths 3 strengths
40 mg 80 mg 125 mg
38 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Injection

Into a vein
Brands Aponvie Cinvanti
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Cinvanti is used in adults, with other anti-nausea drugs, to prevent nausea and vomiting from highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.
  • Aponvie is used to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery in adults.
Important instructions
  • Cinvanti is given into a vein as an injection or infusion, finishing about 30 minutes before chemotherapy.
  • Aponvie is given as a quick intravenous injection before anesthesia begins.
Available strengths 2 strengths
32 mg/4.4 mL 130 mg/18 mL
5 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral suspension

By mouth
Brands Emend
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Emend for oral suspension is used with other anti-nausea drugs to prevent chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in patients 6 months and older.
  • Emend for oral suspension is used for children under 12 and for patients who cannot swallow capsules.
Important instructions
  • Emend for oral suspension is prepared by a healthcare provider.
  • Once prepared, Emend for oral suspension can be given by a provider, patient or caregiver, with or without food.
  • Emend for oral suspension is given 1 hour before chemotherapy on Days 1 to 3.
Available strengths 2 strengths
125 mg 22 kg/22 kg
4 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Aprepitant on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Aprepitant appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

7 companies list 27 Aprepitant product records with the FDA, mostly as capsule, injection, oral suspension; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2003. Brand names on the directory include Emend, Cinvanti, Aponvie; the rest are generics.

3
Dose forms ⓘ
7
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
4
Brand names
27
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
2003
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (13) · Kit (12) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC19%
BluePoint Laboratories15%
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA15%
Golden State Medical Supply, Inc.15%
Sandoz Inc15%
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited15%
Other makers7%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Aprepitant is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Aprepitant is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Aprepitant is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

47,287
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$17.4M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Aprepitant prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Aprepitant ranks #644 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 60% of them.

Where Aprepitant ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #644 of 1,601
#639 Sumatriptan Nasal 48,078 Rx #640 Darbepoetin Alfa Injec... 47,924 Rx #641 Sofosbuvir and Velpata... 47,731 Rx #642 Asenapine 47,447 Rx #643 Omeprazole / Sodium Bi... 47,423 Rx #644 Aprepitant 47,287 Rx #645 Neomycin, Polymyxin, a... 46,914 Rx #646 Capsaicin Topical 46,781 Rx #647 Bimatoprost 46,752 Rx #648 Conjugated Estrogens /... 46,742 Rx #649 Trastuzumab Injection 46,422 Rx

Utilization by Aprepitant product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 18 mL / 7.2 mg/mL injection is the most-dispensed Aprepitant product — about 62% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

18 ML aprepitant 7.2 MG/ML Injection Most dispensed

29,108 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 62% of Aprepitant prescriptions shown $10.7M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $366 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 1 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1995150

aprepitant 40 MG Oral Capsule

8,710 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 18% of Aprepitant prescriptions shown $2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $233 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 6 of 15 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 644088

aprepitant 80 MG Oral Capsule

3,004 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 6% of Aprepitant prescriptions shown $1.8M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $586 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 7 of 21 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 403810

4.4 ML aprepitant 7.2 MG/ML Injection

1,165 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 2% of Aprepitant prescriptions shown $105,215 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $90 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2631783

aprepitant 125 MG Oral Capsule

923 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 2% of Aprepitant prescriptions shown $688,826 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $746 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 11 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 403811

aprepitant 125 MG Powder for Oral Suspension

156 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Aprepitant prescriptions shown $141,935 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $910 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1729308

Other Aprepitant products — combination packs and listings not yet matched to a specific clinical product (kept visible so every prescription is accounted for)

4,221 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 9% of Aprepitant prescriptions shown $2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $470 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 4 of 31 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity.

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Aprepitant, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 22 of 83 listed Aprepitant NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Aprepitant products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Aprepitant — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 27 of 27 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 27 Aprepitant NDCs →

Aprepitant recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list 2 Aprepitant recalls since July 2021. One of them is still ongoing and is listed first. A recall names specific lots from one company, so check the lot number on your own bottle rather than assuming every product is affected; your pharmacist can check whether your supply came from an affected lot.

Ongoing Class II Dec 12, 2025 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Presence of particulate matter: potential presence of metal particulates in the product.
  • Merck Emend (aprepitant) for oral suspension, 125 mg, Single-Dose Kit, Rx Only, Manufactured for: Merck Sharpe & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA, Manufactured by: Novo Nordisk Production Ireland Lim… Lots: Lot #: Z014503, Exp 11/15/2027 FDA record D-0241-2026 →
Class II Apr 13, 2022 · Terminated · Mckesson Medical-Surgical Inc. Corporate Office
cGMP deviations: Temperature abuse
  • Aprepitant Capsule, USP, 40 mg, 1 capsule per unit dose package, Rx only, MFG: Sandoz Pharma, NDC 0781-2321-06 Lots: McKesson Medical-Surgical (MMS) is not able to identify the particular lot number received by a particular consignee for the recalled prescription products. Each letter includes the date it was distributed to customers and the dates that i… FDA record D-1027-2022 →

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Aprepitant RxCUI 358255 3 dose forms · 6 strengths
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Capsule RxCUI 405798 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 40 MG RxCUI 644088 80 MG RxCUI 403810 125 MG RxCUI 403811
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Powder for Oral Suspension RxCUI 1729307 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 125 MG RxCUI 1729308

Look up RxCUI 358255 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Aprepitant costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Capsule · Oral 80 mg $208.98 per capsule NDC details & price history
Powder, For Suspension · Oral 125 mg $327.38 each NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Aprepitant brand names

Aprepitant is sold under 3 brand names in the FDA directory — Emend, Cinvanti, Aponvie. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Emend Cinvanti Aponvie

Who makes Aprepitant: manufacturers and labelers

7 companies list Aprepitant products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, BluePoint Laboratories, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC 5 BluePoint Laboratories 4 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA 4 Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. 4 Sandoz Inc 4 Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited 4 Heron Therapeutics, Inc. 2

Aprepitant drug class (RxNorm)

Aprepitant belongs to the Substance P/Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist class.

Pharmacologic class Substance P/Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist
Drug family (ATC) Other antiemetics
How it works Neurokinin 1 Antagonists, Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors, Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inducers, Cytochrome P450 2C9 Inducers

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Aprepitant page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jul 5, 2024
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Aprepitant.
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Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
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Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Aprepitant after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
6
Finished products in the current FDA directory
27
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
7
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
7
Linked representative label ⓘ
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Linked label effective
Jul 5, 2024
Composite sections available
23
Linked SPL Set ID
696f9e80-9cae-403b-de9e-078343ce4713
Linked SPL Document ID
428f7828-6d1c-438b-a17d-b4af0700c740
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →