Nausea and Vomiting
Managing Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is the queasy, unsettled feeling in your stomach that often comes before vomiting. Vomiting is when you throw up. Many people experience nausea and vomiting as a side effect of cancer treatment; especially chemotherapy and radiation to areas like the brain, spine, or abdomen. These symptoms may also be caused by other medications, infections, anxiety, or constipation.
You may be more likely to experience nausea and vomiting during treatment if you:
- Have had nausea with past treatments
- Get motion sickness
- Had morning sickness during pregnancy
- Are younger than 50
- Feel anxious before treatment
Types of Nausea and Vomiting
Different types of treatment-related nausea happen at different times. Understanding the timing can help you and your care team find the best ways to manage it:
- Anticipatory Nausea: Happens before treatment starts—often due to anxiety or previous vomiting during treatment.
- Acute Nausea: Starts within 1–2 hours after treatment, and may peak around 4–6 hours later.
- Delayed Nausea: Begins more than 24 hours after treatment.
The likelihood and severity of nausea and vomiting depend on the specific chemotherapy drugs and your individual response. The good news? There are medications and strategies that help that we will cover below.
Anti-Nausea Medications
Your care team may prescribe anti-nausea and vomiting medicines based on your cancer treatment.
If you’re a candidate for any of these nausea-relief medications, follow these step:
- Take at the first sign of nausea, not after vomiting begins.
- Follow your care team’s instructions carefully, even on days when you feel okay.
- After each chemo cycle, share what worked (or didn’t work) with your team.
Keep in mind: Some nausea medicines can cause constipation. If constipation occurs, ask about stool softeners, such as Docusate 100 mg, 2–3 times/day or laxatives. Remember, always check before using over-the-counter drugs, including acetaminophen or cold medicines.
Ondansetron (example: Zofran®)
Prochlorperazine (example: Compazine®)
Metoclopramide (example: Reglan®)
Lorazepam (example: Ativan®)
Olanzapine (example: Zyprexa®)
Aprepitant (example: Cinvanti® or Emend®)
Dexamethasone (example: Decadron®)
These descriptions do not include all important information about these medicines. See the medicine’s label for complete information. Ask your cancer care team if you have any questions.
Eating and Drinking to Help Nausea
Tip: Suck on ice chips, popsicles, or fruit ices between meals to stay hydrated
Choose Foods Easy on Your Stomach
- Soups and broths: clear broths such as chicken, beef, or veggie
- Cream of wheat or cereal
- Proteins & carbs: baked or broiled chicken without skin, pasta, noodles, rice, or potatoes without skins, crackers, pretzels, or white toast
- Fruits & sweets: bananas, canned fruits, applesauce, popsicles, sherbet, or gelatin
- Plain or vanilla yogurt
Choose Drinks Easy on Your Stomach
- Water or oral rehydration drinks (like Pedialyte®)
- Ginger ale, tea, grape or cranberry juice
Adjust Eating Habits
- Eat 5–6 small meals throughout the day
- Avoid greasy, spicy, or strong-smelling foods
- Let hot foods cool before eating
- Try using a straw if drinking is difficult
- If food smells bother you, ask someone else to cook
Before and After Treatment Tips
When to Call Your Care Team
Reach out right away if:
- You can’t keep fluids down
- You’re unable to swallow your medications
- You vomit 6 or more times in 24 hours
- You see blood or “coffee-ground”-like material in your vomit
