Controlling Your Nausea
Nausea is a side effect of chemotherapy that we can treat. It is not something you just have to live with. How much nausea you have will depend on which drugs are given to you. All chemotherapy is ranked by how likely it is to cause nausea. Be sure to ask your care team about the medicines you are getting. Even if some treatments are known to cause this side effect, today there are very good medicines to control it.
Your doctors and nurses try to prevent nausea as much as they can. The anti-nausea medicines that you may get before and after your treatment will be based on which drugs you receive. It is still vital to tell your doctors and nurses if or when you have nausea. This way we can help to treat it as needed.
Medicine
Medicines taken to prevent nausea may be taken on a routine or as-needed basis. It is vital to take your medicines on time. Do this even if you do not feel nauseated. Be aware that symptoms of nausea may include heart burn, feeling dizzy, having a queasy or sour stomach.. Take your "as needed" medicines as soon as you first feel any stomach upset. If you wait until your symptoms gets worse, your medicine may not work as well. If you cannot take your medicine because of nausea or vomiting, call your doctor. The medicines listed below are used to help treat nausea and vomiting symptoms.
1. Ondansetron (Zofran®)_______mg tablets.
This is used to prevent and treat severe symptoms linked to your treatment. You should take this medicine on a schedule, not as needed. This medicine has few side effects. Some patients have had headaches linked with it.
Take ____ tablet(s) _____ times daily on _________________________
___________________________________________________________.
2. Dexamethasone (Decadron®) ______mg tablets.
This is used to prevent symptoms. It is given with other anti-nausea drugs to help them work better. This is a steroid drug but when given in small anti-nausea doses, the side effects are very few, if any. Take this medicine with food to prevent upset stomach. This drug should be taken on a schedule, never on an as needed basis. You may need to take this medicine before treatment depending on the treatment plan. You may also take it after treatment.
Before treatment, take _____ tablet(s) ______ hours and ______ hours before chemotherapy on ______________________________________
___________________________________________________________.
After treatment, take ______ tablet(s) ______ time(s) daily on ________
___________________________________________________________.
3. Aprepitant (Emend®) ______mg tablets.
This is used to prevent symptoms. Side effects are most often mild and can include feeling drowsy. You may take this before your treatment as well as after on a scheduled basis only.
Before treatment, take _____ tablet(s) _____ hour(s) before treatment on ___________________________________________________________.
After treatment, take ______ tablet(s) ______ time(s) daily on ________
___________________________________________________________.
4. Prochlorperazine (Compazine®) _______mg tablets.
This is used to prevent and treat mild symptoms. Side effects are most often mild and include feeling drowsy and having a dry mouth. Some rare side effects are feeling restless or muscle rigidity. If these rare side effects occur you need to report them to your nurse, doctor, or pharmacist. This is taken on an as-needed basis.
Take _____ tablet(s) every ______ hours as needed.
5. Lorazepam (Ativan®) _______mg tablets by mouth or under your tongue or in your cheek.
This is used to treat moderate to severe symptoms. Side effects can include muscle relaxation, decreased anxiety, sedation, and poor coordination. You should not drive or work with machinery until you know how it affects you. Take this on an as-needed basis only.
Take ______ tablet(s) every ______ hours as needed.
6. Others __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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Day Before Chemotherapy
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Chemotherapy Day
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Day 1 after Chemotherapy
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Day 2 after Chemotherapy
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Day 3 after Chemotherapy
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Day 4 after Chemotherapy
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The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 03/10/2011
Copyright © 03/10/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6569
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