Medicines for nausea during chemotherapy | Medicines for nausea

Medicines for nausea during chemotherapy

Chemotherapy very often causes nausea and vomiting. Therefore, drugs against nausea are nowadays an integral part of the therapy concept for chemotherapy. Since most of the drugs used in chemotherapy can cause severe nausea, strong drugs are also used to treat nausea.

These include serotonin receptor blockers (more precisely: 5-HT3 receptor antagonists), which block certain binding sites of the messenger substance serotonin in the central nervous system. Serotonin belongs to the messenger substances that mediate nausea and vomiting. Accordingly, the 5-HT3 blockers are very potent agents against nausea.

Granisetron, Odansetron and Dolasetron belong to this group of active ingredients. They are also generally known as “setrons”.In addition, steroids are often used, as they also have anti-nausea properties when combined. Dexamethasone, for example.

Finally, the NK1 receptor blocker aprepitant is also used. If these drugs do not work, other preparations can also be administered. For example, metoclopramide (MCP), antihistamines (e.g. dimenhydrinate), neuroleptics or benzodiazepines, with the last two classes of active ingredients being used primarily to calm the patient’s mind. Depending on the type of chemotherapy and the substances used, the antiemetic therapy is chosen for the patient.

Medicines for nausea after alcohol

No medication should be taken against nausea after alcohol consumption. With the famous “hangover”, more general measures are suitable to make the symptoms more bearable. In the course of the day, the complaints usually subside by themselves.

Above all, a lot of water should be drunk. Herbal teas, such as peppermint or chamomile tea, have also proved to be effective for nausea. Taking a walk in the fresh air is also beneficial in combating headaches with nausea.

If you can tolerate it, the so-called hangover breakfast can help the symptoms subside more quickly. This involves eating foods that are particularly rich in nutrients. In case of nausea, however, food intake should be started slowly and carefully.

Over-the-counter medicines for nausea

In the pharmacy, numerous drugs against nausea are also available without a doctor’s prescription. These include, for example, the antihistamines diphenhydramine and dimenhydrinate, which are available in different dosage forms (tablets, suppositories, juice, chewing gum). Preparations with ginger root and vitamin mixtures are also available in pharmacies against nausea and can be purchased without a prescription. However, metoclopramide (MCP), setrone, neuroleptics, benzodiazepines and dexamethasone can only be purchased from pharmacies on presentation of a prescription.