Chemotherapy induced nausea
Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, including anticipatory nausea.
About this condition
Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting can be acute, within the first day, or delayed over the following days. Some people develop anticipatory nausea, feeling sick before treatment even begins. Different chemotherapy regimens carry very different risks, and prevention is planned in advance according to that risk.
Modern anti sickness treatment is effective for most people, using combinations of medicines given before and after chemotherapy. Where nausea persists despite an appropriate regimen, the oncology team can escalate treatment. Your chemotherapy team should always be told when anti sickness treatment is not working, because they can change it quickly.
Treatments people usually try first
These are the treatments commonly offered in the UK for this condition. A specialist doctor will want to know which of them you have tried, and what happened.
- 5HT3 antagonists such as ondansetron
- NK1 receptor antagonists such as aprepitant
- Dexamethasone alongside anti sickness medicines
- Metoclopramide, domperidone or levomepromazine
- Benzodiazepines for anticipatory nausea
- Acupressure and relaxation techniques as additional support
Could medical cannabis be appropriate?
People with this condition sometimes ask whether medical cannabis could be appropriate for them. That is a question for a specialist doctor, who will look at your diagnosis, your history and everything you have already tried before saying anything either way.
Medical cannabis is an unlicensed prescription only medicine in the UK. It is considered only where a diagnosed condition has not responded adequately to conventional treatment, and it is never a first step. We cannot tell you in advance what might be prescribed, and UK law does not allow us to describe or advertise any medicine on this website.
What we can do is assess you properly and be honest with you. If a specialist doctor does not think this route is right for you, they will say so, and they will explain why.
All treatment is subject to clinical assessment and eligibility.
Questions about chemotherapy induced nausea
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