Chemotherapy, a common cancer treatment that shrinks tumors, causes nausea and vomiting in many cancer sufferers. Nausea leads to fatigue and weakness in many cancer patients, preventing them from performing daily functions. To decrease this debilitating side effect, doctors prescribe chemotherapy nausea treatments to help patients function during their chemo. Anti-nausea treatments range from conventional drug treatments and naturopathic procedures that help relax people getting chemotherapy treatments. Medications that treat nausea, though, produce other side effects in cancer sufferers.
Corticosteroids
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America say that corticosteroids work as anti-inflammatory drugs; however, doctors use them as chemotherapy nausea treatments in some patients. Doctors prescribe these medications orally or intravenously, taken alone or with other drugs. The negative side effects of corticosteroids include anxiety, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, gastrointestinal symptoms, and weak immune systems.
Dopamine Antagonists
Dopamine antagonists are chemotherapy nausea treatments used for acute vomiting caused by chemotherapy drugs. Dopamine blocks receptors in the brain that triggers chemotherapy-related vomiting. The risk factors for taking this drug include muscle spasms and restlessness.
Serotonin Antagonists
New York University Langone Medical Center says serotonin antagonist block the affects of serotonin, a chemical in the brain and stomach. This chemotherapy nausea treatment relieves nausea caused by chemotherapy by repressing triggers that lead to this condition. Minimal side effects result from this treatment; however, serotonin antagonists' side effects include diarrhea and constipation, muscle cramps, nervousness, fatigue, and skin rashes.
Benzodiazepines
American Family Physicians states that doctors prescribe benzodiazepines for a variety of uses, including a chemotherapy nausea treatment. This anti-anxiety medication suppresses nausea when taken in conjunction with other medications. Cancer patients become more relaxed from this treatment. Side effects include confusion, dependency and withdrawal, low blood pressure, and drug toxicity.
Acupuncture
The Cleveland Clinic cites 11 clinical trials conducted by the National Institutes of Health stating that acupuncture, in combination with medication, works as a chemotherapy nausea treatment that improves patient's ability to withstand their treatment. The needles stimulate blood flow in the body, affecting the part of the brain that causes nausea and vomiting. Acupuncture produces no known side effects; however, patients should not stop taking other medications without doctor's permission.
Herbal Treatment
The Cleveland Clinics says that various herbs work as chemotherapy nausea treatments. Ginger has the reputation as being an anti-nausea treatment. People receiving chemotherapy treatments chew fresh slices of ginger or drink ginger tea to settle their stomachs. Other herbal supplements include caraway seeds and fennel tea.
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