Management of Nausea and Vomiting John A. Mulder, MD Vice President, Medical Services Faith Hospice
Apr 01, 2015
Management of
Nausea and Vomiting
John A. Mulder, MDVice President, Medical Services
Faith Hospice
Assessment• Onset• Frequency• Relationship to eating• Relationship to medications• Current nausea medications
• Chronic or progressing• Alleviating factors• Severity• Scale: 1-10• Goal
Assess cause:• Chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ)• Gastrointestinal/bowel• Vestibular• Cortical/anxiety• Vomiting center
NAUSEA
Opioids (and metabolites)
Bowel obstruction
Metabolic problemsIntracranial pressure
Other drugs
Autonomic failure
Peptic ulcer disease
Constipation
Driver, L, and Bruera, E., The MD Anderson Palliative Care Handbook
Common Causes in Cancer Patients• Treatment-related factors
– Chemotherapy– Radiation Therapy– Opioid Therapy– Other drugs (antibiotics, NSAIDs,
SSRIs, etc.)
Common Causes in Cancer Patients• Pathophysiologic/metabolic/
biochemical– Constipation– Autonomic dysfunction (gatroparesis,
stasis)– Gastric/duodenal ulcer– GERD/gastritis– Liver failure/hepatomegaly/ascites– Infection/sepsis/fever– Coughing– Increased intracranial pressure
Common Causes in Cancer Patients• Pathophysiologic/metabolic/
biochemical– Oral/esophageal infection/lesions– Pain– Dehydration– Electrolyte imbalance– Hypercalcemia– Uremia– Endocrine dysfunction
Common Causes in Cancer Patients• CNS/psychophysiologic problems
– Vestibular disturbance– Cerebrocortical mechanisms
(anticipatory N/V)– Limbic mechanisms (hypersensitivity
to taste and smell)– Anxiety
Most patients have multifactoral causes
Treatment Considerations• Constipation regimen• Decompress obstruction; disimpact• If no nausea and tolerated, support
only• Oral hygiene• Small stomach: small portions,
frequent meals, cold foods tolerated better
• Odors• Avoid odors of cooking (ventilation)• Perfumes, scents, etc.
• Opioid rotation• Steroids or RT for increased ICP• Reassurance/relaxation for
anticipatory nausea/high anxiety• Correct electrolyte imbalance• Volume repletion for dehydration• Hypercalcemia treatment with
hydration, steroids, bisphosphonates
• Adjustment of nutritional supplements
Review medication list• a. Digitalis • b. Theophylline • c. Chemotherapy• d. Antibiotics
–1. Erythromycin–2. Tetracycline–3. Metronidazole (Flagyl)–4. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Pharmacologic treatmentConventional antiemetics :• metoclopramide (Reglan) – po, pr, iv, sc• prochlorperazine (Compazine) - po, pr,
iv, sc• droperidol (Inapsine) - im, iv, sc• promethazine (Phenergan) - po, pr, iv,
sc• scopolomine (Transderm Scop, Scopace)
– td, po• meclizine (Antivert) - po
Pharmacologic treatmentSelective serotonin 5-HT3 antagonists:• ondansetron (Zofran, Zuplenz) - po, iv,
sc, sl• granisetron (Kytril, Granisol, Sancuso) -
po, iv, sc, td • polonosetron (Aloxi) – iv• dolasetron (Anzemet) – iv
Pharmacologic treatmentCannabinoid receptor agonists:• nabilone (Cesamet) – PO• dronabinol (Marinol) – PO
Pharmacologic treatmentOthers:• aprepitant (Emend) – PO, IV
– Selective human substance P/neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist
Anticholinergic agents• Hyoscyamine (Levsin)
Motility Problem• a. Metoclopramide (Reglan) 5-20mg a.c.• b. Cisapride (Propulsid) 10-20mg QID
Movement induced; initiation of opioids• a. Scopolamine (Transderm Scop Patch) Q
72hrs• b. Meclizine (Antivert) 12.5-25mg Q 6hrs
Alternative antiemetics (cont.)• d. Combination suppositories: BRD
– 1. Benadryl 25 mg– 2 .Reglan 10 mg 1-2 PR Q
4hr– 3. Dexamethasone 2 mg
• e. ABHR– 1. Ativan 0.5 mg– 2. Benedryl 12.5 mg 1 Q 6hr– 3. Haldol 0.5 mg– 4. Reglan 10 mg
Unconventional antiemetics :• Haloperidol (Haldol)• Lorazepam (Ativan)• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)• Corticosteroids (Decadron)• Sea Bands• Cannabinoids (Marinol)
BAD Drip• 50 cc D5W• 200 mg Benedryl• 8 mg Ativan• 20 mg Decadron• 0.2 – 2.0 ml/h
RBD Drip• 50 cc 0.9% sodium chloride• 80 mg Reglan• 100 mg Benadryl• 8 mg Decadron• 0.5 – 1.5 ml/h
Random thoughts . . .• Metoclopramide 1st drug of choice
because of peripheral (GI) effects and central effects (CTZ)
• Antihistamines have no antidopaminergic effect (not 1st line in treating opioid-related nausea)
• Phenothiazines very sedating, can cause other side effects
• NG tube may be necessary for mgmt of copious vomiting, abd distention, obstruction, etc.
• Combining drugs of different mechanisms may yield positive results in addressing multifactoral etiology
Random thoughts . . .• Anticipatory, PO, RTC dosing most likely
to provide greatest benefit• Corticosteroids often exert excellent
antiemetic effects• Always R/O constipation/impaction in
terminally ill patient presenting with chronic N/V
• 5-HT3 antagonists among most effective for chemotherapy induced N/V, but have minial effects on opioid-induced emesis and have no promotility effects
Costs
Drug PO Inj PRPhenergan .02/mg .09/mg .16/mg
Compazine .08/mg ---- .12/mg
Haldol .14/mg $1.80/mg
----
Emend $275.50/kit
---- ----
Hyoscyamine
$2.48/mg ---- ----
Zofran $4.73/mg $6.00/mg
----
Costs
Drug PO Inj PR
Reglan .02/mg .36/mg ----
Antivert .004/mg ---- ----
Marinol $1.68/mg ---- ----
Costs
Drug
ABHR $1.25/doseCream
$3.95/supp
Sea bands $6.20/pair
Scope patch $5.48/each
John Mulder, MDVP of Medical Services
Faith Hospice616-293-3615