Pharmacist management of antiemetic therapy under protocol in an oncology clinic

The development of a program for pharmacist prescribing of antiemetic agents for nausea and vomiting induced by antineoplastic agents given to ambulatory patients is described. The oncologist and the pharmacists developed a protocol and submitted it to the Washington State Board of Pharmacy, which can authorize a pharmacist to initiate or modify drug therapy in accordance with written guidelines or protocols. The protocol was approved and the pharmacists developed algorithms for antiemetic therapy, based on the emetic potential of the various antineoplastic agents. The oncologist writes an order for the pharmacist to prescribe antiemetic therapy for an individual patient, and the pharmacists selects an algorithm for each patient based on the antineoplastic agent that has the highest potential for causing emesis. The pharmacist writes orders for antiemetic agents to be administered in the clinic and at home, phones the patient 24 hours after antineoplastic drug therapy, and, if necessary, modifies the antiemetic therapy. Pharmacists have managed antiemetic therapy for more than 1200 patient visits and were able to use the first-line therapy in the selected algorithm in 78% of the cases without serious adverse effects. Pharmacist management of antiemetic therapy for nausea and vomiting associated with antineoplastic drug treatment has been well accepted by patients and professionals in this oncology clinic.