Antinausea Medications Two areas in the brain have been identified as being responsible for nausea and vomiting, and certain drugs and other methods can selectively block these areas. Your doctor can work out a program to combat your nausea, although if one drug or drug combination doesn't work as well as you would both like, you may have to experiment with different programs. If nausea or vomiting occurs, tell your doctor about this at your next visit.
Generally, antivomiting drugs (antiemetics) should be taken 30 minutes before chemotherapy so that they have time to take effect.
• If vomiting has already started and you can't keep a pill down,
an antinausea suppository such as prochlorperazine may help.
• Dexamethasone may help block the brain's vomiting center.
• Lorazepam is also an anti-anxiety agent and sleeping tablet that can cause amnesia, which might take the edge
off any memory of vomiting once the episode is over. Lorazepam can be taken under the tongue for rapid
absorption during severe nausea.
• Some forms of marijuana, the natural delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the synthetic nabilone, may
successfully control nausea and vomiting by working on the higher brain centers. But they can also cause
drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Ondansetron is the most significant drug used to control nausea and vomiting caused by intensive
chemotherapy and radiotherapy . It may be needed when you are receiving "highest potential" chemotherapy
