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Antinauseants and Antiemetic Agents
Antinauseants and Antiemetic Agents
THERAPEUTIC USE
All three agents appear to be equally efficacious in chemotherapyinduced nausea and in
treating nausea secondary to upper abdominal irradiation, They also are effective against
hyperemesis of pregnancy, and to a lesser degree, postoperative nausea, but not against
motion sickness. Unlike other agents in this class, palonosetron also may be helpful in
delayed emesis (see below).
These agents are available as tablets, oral solution, and intravenous preparations for
injection. For patients on cancer chemotherapy, these drugs can be given in a single
intravenous dose (Table 37–8) infused over 15 minutes, beginning 30 minutes before
chemotherapy, or in two to three divided doses, with the first usually given 30 minutes
before and subsequent doses at various intervals after chemotherapy. The drugs also can be
used intramuscularly or orally.
These drugs generally are very well tolerated, with the most common adverse effects
being constipation or diarrhea, headache, and light-headedness.