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Palliative cancer care - nausea & vomiting - Management
Overview of management
- Assess the person and, where possible, identify the cause of nausea and vomiting.
- Manage the underlying cause if possible and appropriate.
- Manage any complications of prolonged nausea and vomiting.
- Try simple measures to relieve symptoms.
- Offer a first-line anti-emetic, depending on the cause of nausea and vomiting.
- Review and reconsider the diagnosis if response to treatment is unexpectedly poor or symptoms persist.
- Add in or switch to a second-line anti-emetic if nausea and vomiting persists after 24 hours.
- Seek specialist help if symptoms remain poorly controlled after another 24 hours.
- Consider management of other physical symptoms, and take into account the psychological, social, and spiritual needs of the person and their family. For more information, see the CKS topic on Palliative cancer care - general issues.
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