Antiemetics

[EZGM]

I work on an oncology floor and was wondering if any of you work at an institution that uses antiemetic continuous gtt bags or any of the ginger products, like the pops for nausea management?

We do not, but I had a pt. who said she came from a hosp. that gave her a continuous gtt of ativan + decadron + benedryl mixed in a 500cc bag. We just recently starting giving zofran and benedryl together b/c the MD's said it works better that way.

I was wondering what other concoctions are out there for N/V?

Thanks!

[EmmaG, RN]

I've used ativan/dex/zofran or kytril (either as a prn or on a routine schedule), but not as a continuous infusion.

[EZGM]

I've used ativan/dex/zofran or kytril (either as a prn or on a routine schedule), but not as a continuous infusion.

Do you give the ativan/dex/zofran together?

[EmmaG, RN]

Do you give the ativan/dex/zofran together?

Yes, our oncologists will order them together, but we don't typically mix them in one infusion if that's what you mean.

[miko014]

We give zofran and decadron in the same IVPB prior to chemo, but otherwise we push the zofran prn. And sometimes we use anzement IVPB but not that often. We've been seeing a lot of prn compazine orders, particularly with vesanoid seeing as how it makes a lot of people nauseous. We don't use any ginger stuff (though some of the ps drink ginger ale if that counts), but we do use lemon drops sometimes. As far as any continuous gtts, the closest I have seen would be a protonix gtt, which doesn't happen very often, and really, it isn't an antiemetic anyway.

[EmmaG, RN]

We give zofran and decadron in the same IVPB prior to chemo,

Just to clarify my above post, we also give that mixed as you describe as a premed IVPB.

In one hospital I worked, they used Anzemet almost exclusively. Here, I've never seen it ordered.

[elthia]

I've used haldol with good effect at times, but it's hard convincing young residents to prescribe it for nausea/vomiting, but it works on dopamine receptors and is a fairly good antiemetic. It's the fact that it is widely known as an antipsychotic that stigmatizes it's other uses, IMHO.