antiemesis
Last reviewed 01/2018
The indications for antiemetic therapy include:
- motion sickness:
- use hyoscine patches or antihistamines
- drug-induced emesis:
- gastric irritation:
- common problem
- take the offending drug with food, e.g. spironolactone
- take frequent small doses
- CNS irritation:
- due to, e.g. opiates
- treat with:
- phenothiazines
- metoclopramide
- cytotoxic therapy
- post-operative:
- ensure that the anatomy is correct, e.g. do not start antiemesis if the patient is obstructed
- drug therapy:
- metoclopramide
- phenothiazines
- migraine:
- i.v. metoclopramide promotes gastric emptying and so permits improved absorption of other therapies such as analgesics