Why does chemotherapy cause nausea?

Which combination would be appropriate for prevention of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting?
What do they give chemo patients for nausea?
What antiemetic is given before chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common side-effect of many cancer treatments. Nausea and vomiting are two of the most feared cancer treatment-related side effects for cancer patients and their families. For over 30 years, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting have been the most severe and troublesome symptoms for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Unresolved chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can lead to metabolic disorders, dehydration, nutritional depletion and esophageal tears, and can reduce patients’ daily functioning and quality of life and interfere with treatment schedules. Despite the widespread use of antiemetics, chemotherapy-induced nausea continues to be problematic. Unlike vomiting, nausea is a subjective and unobservable phenomenon making it extremely difficult to accurately assess and treat. Current research suggests that management of chemotherapy-induced nausea should focus on treating the symptoms before they occur rather than after they develop. This review highlights evidence-based interventions for the treatment of chemotherapy-related nausea.

There are several subtypes of CINV. The classifications of nausea and vomiting are:

Read more about: Chemotherapy types

Read more about: Chemotherapy hair loss

Treating nausea and vomiting

Why does chemotherapy cause nausea?

Your body sees the medicine as foreign. It sets off warning signals in your brain and digestive system. This flips the on switch in a part of your brain called the vomiting center. It puts out chemicals that make you queasy.  Chemo can harm your digestive tract, too, which could also lead to nausea.

Read more about: cervical cancer risk factors

Read more about: Types of chemotherapy

Read more about: Chemo side effects

Read more about : Colorectal cancer surgery

Read more about: Cancer treatment

Which combination would be appropriate for prevention of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting?

Benzodiazepines are appropriate adjunct therapies to decrease treatment-related anxiety, and they are the preferred agents to treat and prevent anticipatory nausea and vomiting. dexamethasone and aprepitant are recommended against delayed nausea and emesis. Studies have shown that dexamethasone is the most potent antiemetic for prevention of delayed  nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, aprepitant increases the efficacy of serotonin (5-HT3) antiemetics plus dexamethasone regimens to reduce both acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting during highly emetogenic regimens, such as cisplatin.

What do they give chemo patients for nausea?

When suffering from nausea caused by chemotherapy treatments, your doctor will prescribe anti-nausea medications to prevent or relieve nausea.

Likewise, your doctor may not prescribe any anti-nausea drugs because not all chemotherapy cause nausea and vomiting. However, if the chemotherapy is likely to cause nausea and vomiting, your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following common anti-nausea medications:

What antiemetic is given before chemotherapy?

Dexamethasone improves control of acute nausea and vomiting when given prior to chemotherapy, and continued administration of dexamethasone improves nausea and vomiting after highly emetogenic chemotherapy. It can also be given as an oral tablet for patients to take for the two days following chemotherapy to help minimise delayed nausea and vomiting.

Read more about: Colon Cancer Treatment

Read more about : Prostate Cancer Treatments Pros and Cons

Preparing for chemo treatments

Read more about : Orchiectomy surgery for prostate cancer

Read more about: Chemotherapy drugs

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *