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Palliative cancer care - nausea & vomiting - Management
How should I treat nausea and vomiting due to metabolic causes?
- If hypercalcaemia is present (corrected serum calcium concentration greater than 2.8 mmol/L), arrange admission if appropriate:
- Management of hypercalcaemia usually involves admission for intravenous rehydration and bisphosphonates.
- Correction of hypercalcaemia may not always be appropriate in people near the end of life.
- Metabolic-induced nausea and vomiting: give haloperidol, 1.5–10 mg daily.
- Starting dosage: 1.5 mg immediately and at night.
- Usual dosage: 3–5 mg at night or in divided doses.
- Usual maximum dosage in nausea and vomiting: 10 mg/day (at night or in divided doses).
Basis for recommendation
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