Skip to Main Content

INTRODUCTION

dolasetron (doe-las-e-tron)

Anzemet

Classification

Therapeutic: antiemetics

Pharmacologic: 5-HT3 antagonists

Indications

Prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with emetogenic chemotherapy. Prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea/vomiting.

Action

Blocks the effects of serotonin at receptor sites (selective antagonist) located in vagal nerve terminals and in the chemoreceptor trigger zone in the CNS. Therapeutic Effects: Decreased incidence and severity of nausea/vomiting associated with emetogenic chemotherapy or surgery.

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

CNS: headache (increased in cancer patients), dizziness, fatigue, syncope. CV: bradycardia, ECG changes, hypertension, hypotension, tachycardia. GI: diarrhea, dyspepsia. GU: oliguria. Derm: pruritus. Misc: chills, fever, pain.

PHYSICAL THERAPY IMPLICATIONS

Examination and Evaluation

  • Monitor improvements in GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting) to help document whether drug therapy is successful.

  • Assess heart rate, ECG, and heart sounds, especially during exercise (See Appendices G, H). Report any rhythm disturbances or symptoms of increased arrhythmias, including palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, fainting, and fatigue/weakness.

  • Assess blood pressure (BP) and compare to normal values (See Appendix F). Report changes in BP, either a problematic decrease in BP (hypotension) or a sustained increase in BP (hypertension).

  • Assess any unexplained or unusual pain to rule out musculoskeletal pathology; that is, try to determine if pain is drug-induced rather than caused by anatomic or biomechanical problems.

  • Assess dizziness or syncope that affects gait, balance, and other functional activities (See Appendix C). Report balance problems and functional limitations to the physician and nursing staff, and caution the patient and family/caregivers to guard against falls and trauma.

Interventions

  • Because of the risk of arrhythmias and abnormal BP responses, use caution during aerobic exercise and other forms of therapeutic exercise. Assess exercise tolerance frequently (BP, heart rate, fatigue levels), and terminate exercise immediately if any untoward responses occur (See Appendix L).

Patient/Client-Related Instruction

  • Instruct patient to report bothersome or prolonged side effects, including headache, itching skin, problems with urination, chills, fever, or GI effects (diarrhea, indigestion).

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Well absorbed but rapidly metabolized to hydrodolasetron, the active metabolite.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism and Excretion: 61% of hydrodolasetron is excreted unchanged by the kidneys.

Half-life: Hydrodolasetron—8.1 hr (shorter in children).

|Download (.pdf)|Print

TIME/ACTION PROFILE (antiemetic effect)

ROUTE ONSET PEAK DURATION
PO unknown 1–2 hr up to 24 hr
IV unknown 15–30 min up to 24 hr

Contraindications/Precautions

Contraindicated in: Hypersensitivity.

Use Cautiously in: Patients with risk factors for prolongation of cardiac conduction intervals (hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, ...

Pop-up div Successfully Displayed

This div only appears when the trigger link is hovered over. Otherwise it is hidden from view.