What Antinausea Drugs Are Used During Chemotherapy?
Your child may need antinausea medications (sometimes called antiemetics) to make their chemotherapy treatments more bearable. Below, you will find a list of common antinausea drugs, descriptions of how and when they’re given, and their side effects.
Antinausea drug list
There are different types of antinausea medications, and your child’s doctor may refer to them by the generic or brand name.
| Drug Name | Brand Name(s) |
|---|---|
| Aprepitant | Emend® |
| Diphenhydramine | Benadryl® |
| Granisetron | Granisol®, Kytril®, Sancuso® |
| Lorazepam | Ativan® |
| Ondansetron | Zofran® |
| Prochlorperazine | Compazine® |
| Promethazine | Phenergan® |
Each antinausea drug is different, and we go into more detail about each one in the following sections.
Antinausea medication options for children
Aprepitant (a-PREP-it-ant)
How given: Capsule by mouth (PO) or intravenous (IV) infusion
When given: Capsule is taken 1 hour before chemotherapy. IV infusion is given over a 15-minute span, starting 30 minutes before chemotherapy.
Precaution: This drug interacts with many drugs, so make sure the pharmacist knows about every drug your child takes.
Common side effects:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Hiccups
- Heartburn
- Itchiness
- Loss of appetite
Diphenhydramine (die-fen-HIGH-dra-meen)
How given: Liquid, pills, or capsules by mouth (PO); or intravenous (IV) injection
When given: Usually given every 6 to 8 hours
Common side effects:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Impaired coordination
- Dry mouth
- Excitability (in young children)
- Low blood pressure
Granisetron (gran-ISS-eh-tron)
How given: Intravenous (IV) injection, pills by mouth (PO), or a patch on the skin
When given: Granisetron is usually given 30 minutes before the start of chemotherapy infusion. Doses may be repeated every 12 to 24 hours.
Common side effects:
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Infrequent side effects:
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Allergic reaction
- Abnormal heart rhythms
Lorazepam (lor-AZ-a-pam)
How given: Pills or liquid by mouth (PO); sublingually (pill dissolved under the tongue); or subcutaneous (Sub-Q), intravenous (IV), or intramuscular (IM) injection
When given: This tranquilizer is generally given in combination with other antinausea drugs.
Precaution: This drug interacts with several other drugs, so parents should tell the doctor about everything else their child is taking, including over-the-counter medications.
Common side effects:
- Drowsiness and sleepiness
- Poor short-term memory
- Impaired coordination
- Low blood pressure
- Excitability (in young children)
Ondansetron (on-DAN-se-tron)
How given: Intravenous (IV) injection, liquid or pills by mouth (PO), or sublingual (pill dissolved under the tongue)
When given: Usually given 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy drugs, then every 4 to 8 hours until nausea ends. Can be given in a higher dose once a day.
Note: Ondansetron comes in flavored oral solutions: 1 teaspoon = 4 mg. You can mix the dose in a small amount of a drink your child likes.
Common side effects:
- Headache with rapid IV administration
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Infrequent side effects:
- Serious allergic reaction
- Abnormal heart rhythm
Prochlorperazine (pro-chlor-PAIR-a-zeen)
How given: Pills, long-acting capsule, or liquid by mouth (PO); rectal suppository; or intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) injection
When given: Used when mild nausea is expected.
Common side effects:
- Drowsiness
- Low blood pressure
- Nervousness and restlessness
- Uncontrollable muscle spasms, especially of the jaw, face, and hands
- Blurred vision
Promethazine (pro-METH-ah-zeen)
How given: Pills or liquid by mouth (PO); rectal suppository; or intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) injection
When given: Usually given every 4 to 6 hours.
Common side effects:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Impaired coordination
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Euphoria
- Insomnia
What antinausea medication should my child take?
Many of these antinausea drugs are only available with a prescription. Your child’s doctor will help you find the right option for your child so that they can manage their nausea during treatment.
This page was adapted from the content in our childhood cancer guides, which contain information about specific cancer types, procedures, treatments, and more. The guides are available for free on our website, and childhood cancer families can request a free PDF or print copy.
