Control of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy: what is the evidence?

The control of nausea and vomiting is an important problem for patients undergoing chemotherapy. With the introduction of newer agents, including 5-HT3 antagonists, nausea and vomiting control after chemotherapy has much improved but is not always optimal. While there is an intrinsic limitation to the efficacy of anti-emetic drugs, their efficacy can be further reduced if the drugs are not used appropriately. In some circumstances newer anti-emetics may be unnecessary and better nausea and vomiting control may be established by use of older agents. This paper summarizes current evidence regarding the optimal approach to management of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy.