Nausea (emesis)

This is a very common side effect that depends a lot on the particular treatment and the individual. Fortunately, a number of drugs help treat nausea and vomiting and stimulate the appetite. Unfortunately, there is not a magic drug or combination that works for everyone.

Practical tips

  • Finding the right drug combination for each person is a matter of trial and error, so don¨t be afraid to try different combinations.
  • Ask the doctors and nurses early and often for a different treatment if the current drug combination isn¨t working.
  • There are five classes of anti-nausea drugs that can be used in various combinations. You may want to discuss these with your spouse¨s doctor.

      • 1. Steroids: Decadron (dexamethasone)
      2. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists: Zofran, Aloxi, ondansetron
      3. Neurokinin inhibitors: Emends
      4. Cannaboids: Marinol, marijuana
      5. Anti-histamines: Phenergan, Haldol/Ativan/Benadryl

Please see Anti-nausea/Diet for some dietary tips on dealing with nausea.

Personal experience
When YCS board member Karen¨s husband Mark¨s nausea was really bad, she would give him a medium dose of Ativan (a commonly used anti-anxiety drug that can calm your anxious spouse and also help with nausea), and then he¨d take a long nap. Usually, he felt much better when he woke up.