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aprepitant vs diltiazem

Side-by-side comparison of aprepitant and diltiazem. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Intervention Avoid concomitant use of aprepitant Examples Moderate inhibitor: diltiazem Strong inhibitors: ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, ritonavir, nelfinavir Strong CYP3A4 Inducers Clinical Impact Substantially decreased exposure of aprepitant in patients chronically taking a strong CYP3A4 inducer may decrease the efficacy of aprepitant [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Intervention Avoid concomitant use of aprepitant Examples Moderate inhibitor: diltiazem Strong inhibitors: ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, troleandomycin,...

Recommendation: Avoid taking these two medications at the same time.

Drug Class
aprepitant NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic)
diltiazem Calcium Channel Blocker
Type
aprepitant Prescription
diltiazem Prescription
Summary
aprepitant

Aprepitant (Emend) is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting. It belongs to a class of drugs called NK1 receptor antagonists.

diltiazem

Diltiazem is a medicine that helps lower high blood pressure and prevent chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.

What It Treats
aprepitant

Aprepitant is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It can be used for both strong and moderate chemotherapy treatments. It is also used to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery in adults.

diltiazem

Diltiazem is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines. Diltiazem also helps manage chronic stable angina (chest pain) and angina caused by spasms in the heart's blood vessels.

How It Works
aprepitant

Aprepitant blocks a substance in your body called substance P. Substance P can trigger nausea and vomiting. By blocking it, aprepitant helps reduce these side effects.

diltiazem

Diltiazem works by relaxing blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. It also reduces the heart's workload, which can prevent chest pain. This medicine blocks calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells.

Common Side Effects
aprepitant
  • Tiredness
  • Diarrhea
  • Weakness
  • Upset stomach
  • Stomach pain
diltiazem
  • Swelling in your ankles or feet
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Slow heart rate
  • Constipation
FAERS Reports
aprepitant
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,147
  • Tiredness 1,769
  • Fever 1,589
  • Diarrhea 1,543
  • Difficulty breathing 1,508
diltiazem
  • Shortness of breath 3,200
  • Tiredness 2,637
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,372
  • Discomfort 2,364
  • Feeling lightheaded 2,089
Serious Warnings
aprepitant

Aprepitant can interact with other medicines. It can affect how well warfarin (a blood thinner) and hormonal birth control work. If you take warfarin, your doctor will check your blood. If you use hormonal birth control, use a backup method while taking aprepitant and for 28 days after your last dose.

diltiazem

Diltiazem can interact with other heart medications. Tell your doctor if you take beta-blockers or digoxin. Using diltiazem with these drugs can cause heart problems. Your doctor may need to adjust your dosages.

Pregnancy
aprepitant

There is not enough information about the safety of aprepitant during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if aprepitant passes into breast milk, so discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.

diltiazem

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if diltiazem will harm your unborn baby. Diltiazem passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This aprepitant vs diltiazem Comparison

aprepitant is classified in the NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) drug class, while diltiazem sits within the Calcium Channel Blocker 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, aprepitant has 8,556 submissions while diltiazem has 12,662. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to diltiazem slows down the body's ability to process aprepitant, which can increase the amount of aprepitant in your blood.. 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 aprepitant and diltiazem - 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.