alosetron vs rolapitant
Side-by-side comparison of alosetron and rolapitant Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Lotronex
Varubi
Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It helps to reduce diarrhea and stomach pain.
Varubi is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It is used with other anti-nausea medicines.
Alosetron is used to treat severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. It is for women whose IBS symptoms have lasted for 6 months or longer. You should have already ruled out other possible causes of your symptoms. This medicine is only for you if other treatments have not worked well enough.
Varubi is used to prevent delayed nausea and vomiting in adults. This nausea and vomiting is caused by cancer chemotherapy. It is used for both the first and repeat treatments of chemotherapy.
Alosetron blocks a substance called serotonin in your gut. Serotonin can speed up bowel movements. By blocking serotonin, alosetron slows down your bowel and reduces diarrhea.
Varubi blocks a substance in your body called substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK1). This substance can cause nausea and vomiting. By blocking it, Varubi helps prevent these side effects from chemotherapy.
- • Constipation
- • Abdominal discomfort and pain
- • Nausea
- • Gastrointestinal discomfort and pain
- • Neutropenia (low white blood cell count)
- • Hiccups
- • Abdominal pain
- • Decreased appetite
- • Dizziness
- Medicine not working 11
- Diarrhea 10
- Feeling sick to your stomach 8
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 7
- Stomach pain 6
- Death 141
- Feeling sick to your stomach 79
- Feeling tired 50
- Reaction to the IV medicine 40
- Difficulty breathing 34
Alosetron can cause serious gut problems, like ischemic colitis (reduced blood flow to the bowel) and severe constipation. These problems can lead to hospitalization, surgery, or even death. Stop taking alosetron right away if you get constipated or have symptoms of ischemic colitis, like bloody diarrhea or bad stomach pain. Call your doctor immediately.
You should not take Varubi if you are taking thioridazine or pimozide. These drugs can cause serious heart problems if taken with Varubi. Varubi can increase the levels of these drugs in your blood, leading to QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes, which are dangerous heart rhythm problems.
It is not known if alosetron can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if alosetron passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take alosetron.
There is not enough information about Varubi use in pregnant women to know if it is safe. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Varubi passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This alosetron vs rolapitant Comparison
alosetron is classified in the 5-HT3 Antagonist (IBS-D) drug class, while rolapitant sits within the NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, alosetron has 42 submissions while rolapitant has 344. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between alosetron and rolapitant — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.