Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to cure cancer. It attacks the rapidly growing cancer cells and in a bid to destroy them they also tend to attack a few health cells in the body. This results in various side effects that a patient experience during chemotherapy. Nausea and vomiting are common side effects that most cancer patients experience. To lessen these side effects, anti-emetics drugs also known as anti-sickness drugs are prescribed by the doctors. Antiemetic for chemotherapy is given taking into consideration the exact cause of the side effects.

In most cases, there is more than one cause of vomiting and nausea that might require more than one type of treatment. Antiemetic drugs work in different ways and are most often prescribed in combination for best results.

A lot of drugs are available to control vomiting and nausea. In order to prevent the vomiting stimulation, some drugs work on the brains whereas a few others work on the gut that helps to empty the stomach at a faster rate. This  helps the food move through the intestine at a faster pace. By treating the exact cause, nausea and vomiting can be controlled in the most effective way.

How are Antiemetic Drugs given?

• Orally: A few tablets can be taken by mouth with a sufficient amount of water. In some cases, it is placed under the tongue to get dissolved.
• Intravenously: A few antiemetics can be given with the help of a small tube called cannula that is inserted into the vein. The drug needs to be diluted in a fluid before administrating.
• Through muscle: The drugs are injected into the muscle.
• Through fatty tissues: The drugs are injected by either using a syringe or using a pump that is attached to a small needle. It is usually placed under the skin and given very slowly for several hours.
• Suppositories: The drug is put into the rectum where it gets dissolved and absorbed in the blood stream.
• Patches on the skin: Some drugs could be absorbed from the skin through a small patch on the skin. The drug is changed after every three days.

Most of the chemotherapy drugs cause nausea and vomiting among cancer patients. Doctors usually prescribe antiemetic therapy before beginning chemotherapy treatment. Antiemetic therapy is continued for a few days even after the treatment is over. This ensures minimum side effects from chemotherapy.

If the patient is feeling sick or nauseated owing to the cancer itself, it would take some time to control the symptoms. Antiemetic therapy is given in such cases and the cause of the sickness is detected.

Antiemetic therapy if taken regularly cures nausea and vomiting more effectively than by taking it after nausea is built up. If nausea or vomiting begins and gradually worsens or even lasts for more than three days, it should be bought to the doctor’s or medical advisors attention as soon as possible. 5HT3 inhibitors such as granisetron, ondansetron, tropisetron and steroids such as dexamethasone are common antiemetic drugs used to cure these side effects.