Kytril (Granisetron)

KYTRIL is usually taken only on the day of treatment with chemotherapy or radiation.

Your doctor may want you to take only one dose, up to 1 hour before chemotherapy or radiation.

For patients undergoing chemotherapy, a second dose of KYTRIL is sometimes given 12 hours after the first dose. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

KYTRIL is not likely to be useful if you keep taking it during times when you are not receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

Apply the patch to clean, dry, and hairless skin on the outer part of your upper arm. Avoid placing the patch on skin that is red, irritated, or damaged. Press the patch firmly into place and make sure it is well sealed around the edges.

Leave the patch in place during your chemotherapy treatment, and for at least 24 hours after your treatment has ended. Peel off the patch gently when removing it.

You may continue wearing a skin patch for up to 7 days if needed, depending on your chemotherapy schedule. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Choose a different place on your body to wear the patch each time you put on a new one. Do not use the same skin area twice within 7 days.

Do not wear more than one KYTRIL transdermal patch at a time. Using extra skin patches will not make the medicine more effective. Never cut a skin patch.

If a patch falls off, try sticking it back into place. If it does not stick well, put on a new patch and leave it on only for the rest of your wearing time. Do not change your patch removal schedule.

After removing a patch, fold it in half so it sticks together and throw it away in a place where children or pets cannot get to it.

KYTRIL transdermal is not likely to be useful if you keep using it during times when you are not receiving chemotherapy.

Do not share this medicine with another person.

Keep each patch in its foil pouch until you are ready to use it. Store the pouches in their original container at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line.

Tell your doctor if you forget to take your dose within 1 hour before chemotherapy or radiation. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• fast or pounding heartbeats;
• chest pain;
• severe dizziness;
• increased blood pressure--severe headache, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, shortness of breath; or
• high levels of serotonin in the body--agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

Common side effects may include:

• headache, weakness;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• stomach pain, indigestion, loss of appetite;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• fever, flu symptoms.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

To make sure KYTRIL is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease;
• a heart rhythm disorder;
• a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood); or
• if you have recently had stomach or intestinal surgery.

You should not use KYTRIL if you are allergic to it.

To make sure KYTRIL transdermal is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• a stomach or intestinal disorder;
• if you have recently had stomach or intestinal surgery; or
• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any type of medicated skin patch.

KYTRIL transdermal is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether KYTRIL transdermal passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not cover treated skin with a heating pad. Heat can increase the amount of drug absorbed through your skin and may cause harmful effects.

There are many other medicines that can increase your risk of heart rhythm problems if you use them together with KYTRIL.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with KYTRIL, especially:

• anagrelide;
• droperidol;
• methadone;
• ondansetron;
• an antibiotic--azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, pentamidine;
• cancer medicine--arsenic trioxide, vandetanib;
• an antidepressant--citalopram, escitalopram;
• anti-malaria medication--chloroquine, halofantrine;
• heart rhythm medicine--amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, flecainide, ibutilide, quinidine, sotalol; or
• medicine to treat a psychiatric disorder--chlorpromazine, haloperidol, pimozide, thioridazine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with KYTRIL, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.