Chemotherapy refers to toxic medications given to treat cancer. Cancer is an abnormal overgrowth of cells in your body. For example, you can develop breast, lung, kidney, bladder, prostate or stomach cancer. Chemotherapy destroys your healthy cells along with your cancerous cells. Its common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and hair loss. There are specific medications used to resolve the nausea you experience from chemotherapy treatment.
Ondansetron
Ondansetron is one of the first lines of treatment for nausea during chemotherapy. According to the National Library of Medicine, ondansetron is a medication that prevents nausea and vomiting if you are receiving such emetic-inducing chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin. In a study of 242 patients receiving ondansetron, the National Library of Medicine says that 24 percent developed a headache, 13 percent developed fatigue, 9 percent developed constipation, 6 percent developed diarrhea and 5 percent developed dizziness. Typically, your doctor will instruct you to take 8mg of ondansetron twice a day.
Prochlorperazine
According to Drugs.com, prochlorperazine is an antipsychotic medication that can be used to manage intense and frequent bouts of nausea and vomiting. Prochlorperazine's common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, blurry vision, a headache and weight gain. At its worst, prochlorperazine can cause seizures, joint pain, restlessness, stiff muscles and confusion. Prior to using prochlorperazine, tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, seizures, breast cancer or asthma. This medication can worsen these diseases or cause certain side effects as mentioned previously. You will take 5 or 10mg of prochlorperazine three or four times a day.
Dronabinol
The National Institutes of Health indicates that dronabinol is a medication used to manage the nausea and vomiting of chemotherapy when all other medications do not work. Dronabinol is a cannabinoid that targets your brain to control your vomiting, nausea and appetite. Dronabinol's side effects include anxiety, confusion, dizziness, unsteadiness, drowsiness, weakness and abnormal thoughts. This medication's potentially life-threatening side effects include seizures and a fast heartbeat (tachycardia). Dronabinol is a capsule that is typically taken one to three hours prior to chemotherapy. Then, you use this medication two to four hours following chemotherapy. The NIH says you should only take four to six doses of dronabinol a day.
