Anti-nausea medication

Anti-Nausea Medication Instructions

When you receive chemotherapy, we often administer intravenous anti-nausea medicines to prevent nausea and/or vomiting. These drugs frequently work to prevent vomiting for up to 24 hours after chemotherapy. Your physician or nurse may recommend oral anti-nausea medicines in addition to help prevent the unpleasant experience of nausea or vomiting from occurring after you leave the office. Below are guidelines for how to take these medicines.

Oral anti-nausea medicines may have side effects of their own. Some patients experience dry mouth and drowsiness following Compazine or Phenergan. It is important not to drive while you are taking these medicines. Drink fluids or suck on hard candies to relieve dry mouth. Decadron can cause insomnia and mood swings. Talk to your physician or nurse if this becomes a problem for you. If, at any time, you experience restlessness, muscle twitching, or neck stiffness after taking any of these medicines, call our office immediately and speak with a physician or nurse.

If you find that you cannot keep oral medications down, we may prescribe rectal suppositories as listed. If you ever find that these medicines do not help, and vomiting continues, please call our office at (415) 923-3012 day or night and speak with a nurse or your physician to discuss alternative remedies.

Compazine (prochlorperazine) tablets, 10 mg: Take 1 tablet by mouth every 4-6 hours as needed.

Compazine (prochlorperazine) suppositories, 25 mg: Take 1 suppository rectally every 8 hours as needed.

Ativan (Iorazepam) tablets, 1 mg: Take 1 tablet by mouth or under the tongue every 4-6 hours as needed.

Phenergan (promethazine) tablets or suppositories, 25 mg: Take 1 tablet by mouth or 1 suppository rectally every 6-8 hours as needed.

Decadron (dexamethasone) tablets, 4 mg: Take 2 tablets by mouth 3 times a day the first day after chemotherapy, then 1 tablet 3 times a day for the next 2 days.

Reglan (metoclopramide) tablets, 10 mg: Take 2 tablets by mouth 3 times a day for 3 days.

Zofran (ondansetron) tablets, 8 mg: Take 1 tablet by mouth every 8 hours for 3 days.

Kytril (granisetron) tablets, 1 mg: Take 1 tablet by mouth twice a day.

Anzemet (dolasetron) tablets, 100 mg: Take 1 tablet daily.