Sickness and vomiting treatment

Anti-sickness drugs, also called anti-emetics, can be taken in different ways:

• as tablets
• as injections
• as skin patches
• through a small portable syringe pump if you have problems swallowing
• as a suppository – a small pill pushed gently into your bottom.

Your doctor will discuss appropriate treatments with you from a range, which includes:

These are also called 5HT3 inhibitors and are mainly used along with steroids. After chemotherapy, cells in your gut may release a chemical called serotonin (5HT). This sends a message to the brain, triggering your vomiting centre. By blocking serotonin, 5HT3 inhibitors can stop you feeling sick.

Steroids such as dexamethasone are used alongside other anti-sickness drugs to control sickness and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

These work by blocking a substance in your body called neurokinin. They are usually given with steroids and a serotonin blocker to control sickness and vomiting after chemotherapy. You may hear them called by their brand names Emend® or Ivemend®.

These drugs ease sickness by blocking a chemical messenger called dopamine, which can trigger sickness.

This drug also works by blocking dopamine and can make you feel drowsy depending on the dose you are given. This can be helpful if you’re having trouble sleeping at night.

These have an effect on the vomiting centre in the brain. Chlorpromazine is sometimes given to people with advanced cancer when other anti-sickness drugs haven’t worked. Prochlorperazine can be useful if you’re vomiting persistently or if your nausea is severe.

You may be more familiar with these drugs (such as cyclizine) being used to control allergies, but they can also be used to treat sickness and vomiting.

There are drugs that help with sickness and make you feel sleepy. They are often used for people with advanced cancer. You may be given Haloperidol (Haldol®, Serenace®) which is particularly good for sickness due to cancer treatment.

These are sometimes used along with other anti-sickness drugs. Lorazepam is the medicine from this group that is often given for chemotherapy sickness.  As they help to control anxiety, they can also relieve sickness and vomiting that happens before treatment.

Cancer Research UK has information about more treatment options if you have advanced cancer.

Your doctor or nurse will usually give you anti-sickness medicines before you start your radiotherapy or cancer drug treatment. It’s important to take anti-sickness medicines regularly if you are taking cancer drug tablets or capsules every day.

Some anti-sickness drugs can themselves cause side effects. Your doctor or nurse should tell you about the most likely side effects of any drugs before you take them. You can also ask them if you’re worried about side effects. It’s a good idea to tell them if you’re taking any other medicines or supplements to help them work out what is best for you.

You may sometimes have to try more than one anti-sickness drug before you find one that works for you. Your hospital team will help you bring the sickness under control.

Cancer Research UK has information about some side effects of anti-sickness medicines.

If you have any questions or concerns about feeling sick, vomiting, or about your anti-sickness medication, talk to your doctor or nurse. Or contact our Support Service to talk through what you're experiencing and what you might say to your team.

If you’re feeling very sick or are worried about your vomiting, contact your hospital team straight away. Or, in an emergency, call 999.