Antiemetic therapy: management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Physicians and nurses involved in the care of oncology patients share the responsibility for proper management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Oncology nurses have taken an active part in the research and investigation of new antiemetic agents and the sharing of this knowledge with others. Identifying patient characteristics, using specific guidelines for antiemetic selection, and a knowledge of the antiemetic agents that are active singly or in combination can mean the difference between success and failure in preventing or controlling vomiting induced by chemotherapy. Proper dosing and scheduling of antiemetics using recommendations that have proved efficacious can further decrease a patient's discomfort during a most difficult time in his or her life.