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Previous Volume 329:1790-1796 December 9, 1993 Number 24 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of cancer are unfortunately better known for their toxicity than for their efficacy. Although some of the toxic effects may be life-threatening, patients are often most fearful of the nausea and emesis caused by chemotherapy, which are generally self-limited and seldom life-threatening¹. Effective control of nausea and emesis is therefore a central goal of physicians using chemotherapy regimens.

Treatment of emesis in a patient with cancer begins with an evaluation of the possible causes. Physical complications of cancer (a brain metastasis or bowel obstruction), metabolic complications (hypercalcemia), or unrelated factors (a gastric ulcer or . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Mechanism of the Emetic Response

Neurotransmitters Involved in Emesis

Dopamine

Histamine and Acetylcholine

Opiates

Serotonin

Antiemetic Drugs

Phenothiazines

Butyrophenones

Corticosteroids

Cannabinoids

Benzodiazepines

Substituted Benzamides

Serotonin Antagonists

Combinations of Antiemetic Drugs

Delayed Vomiting

Anticipatory Vomiting

Summary

Source Information

From the Section of Hematology/Oncology, Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington (S.M.G.), and the Section of Medical Oncology, Evans Memorial Department of Clinical Research, Boston University Medical Center, Boston (P.J.H.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Grunberg at the Section of Hematology/Oncology, Vermont Cancer Center, 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05402.

References

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