New Tools for Managing Nausea
Nausea can be an unfortunate side effect of chemotherapy, but a new medication proves effective at reducing nausea.
Knocking Down Nausea
Among the most-dreaded side effects of chemotherapy are nausea and vomiting, but these may have just gotten a little easier to manage. Thanks to research published online January 8 in the Lancet Oncology, doctors now have concrete proof that the newest form of a class of drugs known as 5HT3-antagonists is more effective than the first generation version.
Researchers in Japan compared palonosetron, the newer drug, with granisetron, the first generation version, in more than 1,100 patients. Acute nausea and vomiting, which occurs in the first 0-24 hours after chemotherapy, were well-controlled with both drugs. However, for delayed nausea and vomiting, which occurs 24-120 hours (1-5 days) after chemotherapy, palonosetron was superior.
Delayed nausea and vomiting were completely controlled in 56.8% of the palonosetron group, but completely controlled in only 44.5% of the granisetron group.
Does this mean palonosetron is the right anti-nausea drug for you? Not necessarily. These medications are appropriate for use only with certain types of chemotherapy. If you aren’t receiving these chemotherapy regimens, you may not need palonosetron or granisetron.
The Bottom Line on Nausea Management
The key is that there are now more options than ever for managing nausea and vomiting, and research is pointing to which medications are most likely to help which people. If you are struggling with the side effects of colon cancer treatment, talk to your doctor or nurse about what options might work better for you. You don’t have to accept that nausea and vomiting are a natural part of colon cancer treatment.
Sources
Saito M, Aogi K, Sekine I, Yoshizawa H, Yanagita Y, sakai H, Inoue K, Kitagawa C, Ogura T, Mitsuhashi S. Palonosetron plus dexamethasone versus granisetron plus dexamethasone for prevention of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy: a double-blind, double-dummy, randomised comparative phase III trial. The Lancet Oncology 2009 08:70313-19.
