Managing nausea during chemotherapy
Common approaches that may help
The short version
Nausea is one of the more common chemotherapy side effects, but it's often manageable — anti-nausea medications are typically prescribed proactively, not just after nausea starts.
Not everyone experiences nausea from chemotherapy, and how strong it is varies a lot by regimen. Many treatment plans include anti-nausea medication given proactively, before nausea starts, rather than only as a rescue.
- Take anti-nausea medication as prescribed, even if you're feeling okay
- Small, frequent meals can sometimes be easier to tolerate than large ones
- Bland, room-temperature foods may sit better for some people
- Ginger tea or ginger candy is a common home remedy some people find helpful
When to contact your care team
Reach out if you're unable to keep fluids down for more than a day, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or your prescribed anti-nausea medication doesn't seem to be working.
Questions you may want to ask
Which anti-nausea medication is right for my regimen?
What should I do if the prescribed medication isn't enough?