Purpose | Principles | How to Care for a Patient in Pain | Nutrition
Nausea and Vomiting | Constipation | Anxiety and Depression | Dyspnea
Fatigue | End-of-Life Decision-Making | Community Resources
How to Refer Patients | Communication | Links and References
Nausea
| Use For |
Antiemetic |
Can Give |
Typical Dose |
1st Line prn
Any reason for emesis |
Compazine
(prochlorperazine) |
oral
rectal
IV
IM |
5-10 mg prn
12.5-25 mg prn
5-10 mg prn
5-10 mg prn |
| |
Phenergan
(promethazine) |
oral
IV |
12.5-25 mg po
q 6 hr prn |
| Weak antiemetic |
Tigan
(trimethobenzamide
hydrochloride) |
oral
IM
rectal |
200 mg tid or qid
200 mg (2 ml) tid or qid
200 mg tid or qid |
| Moderate nausea, appetite stimulant, gastroparesis |
Reglan
(metoclopramide) |
oral IV |
10 mg qid or every 6 hr |
| Anti-anxiety drugs |
Ativan
(lorazepam) |
oral
IV
sublingual |
0.5-1.0 mg every 4-6 hr |
|
Vistaril
(hydroxyzine) |
oral
IM |
25-100 mg every 6 hr |
| 2nd Line |
Haldol
(haloperidol) |
IM |
1.25-5 mg every 4-6 hr |
|
Decadron
(dexamethasone) |
oral |
4-8 mg oral tid
10 mg IV one-time dose |
| Vertigo, motion sickness |
Trans-Derm Scop
(scopolamine) |
transdermal |
1.5 mg patch every 3 days |
|
Antivert
(meclizine) |
oral |
25-50 mg every 24 hr |
| Prevent nausea in cancer and AIDS patients |
Marinol
(dronabinol) |
oral |
5 mg-10 mg po every 4 hr |
| Post-operative |
Zofran
(ondansetron) |
oral
IV |
4-8 mg po bid or tid |
Note: Serotonin antagonists Zofran, Kytril (granisetron), Anzemet (dolasetron), Aloxi (palonosetron) and NK1 antagonist Emend (aprepitant) are intended for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced emesis.
Cancer Education & Information Center | 3015 N. Ballas Road | St. Louis, Missouri 63131 USA | 314.996.5800