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Nausea is a commonly encountered symptom in healthcare that is difficult for any patient. Causes may be as simple as the body's defense against an ingested toxin to a complex association set of signals activated by motion, medications, anesthesia, position, stress, pregnancy, psychiatric disorder, or fear. Multiple or single neurohumoral pathways may be involved. Indications for the treatment of symptoms require astute evaluation by the treating provider. This activity reviews the indications, contraindications, activity, adverse events, and other critical elements of antiemetic therapy in the clinical setting as relates to the essential points needed by members of an interprofessional team managing the care of patients who experience nausea and vomiting as part of a clinical presentation. Objectives: Identify the various possible etiologies requiring antiemetic therapy. Determine the mechanism of action of various antiemetic medications. Assess the potential adverse events for various antiemetic medications. Communicate the role of interprofessional coordination in guiding patient care when antiemetics are part of the patient's therapy to achieve optimal outcomes. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

An interprofessional team approach to antiemetics is the best course of action. As described above, nausea and vomiting are common symptoms and part of a complex pathway. Selecting the appropriate treatment option will require coordination across all areas of healthcare, including MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, nursing staff, pharmacists, and other health professionals. The prescriber would do well to include the pharmacist during agent selection and have the pharmacist perform thorough medication reconciliation and verify dosing and duration. Clinicians can provide counsel on administration, warn about potential side effects (reinforced by the pharmacist), and answer patient questions. They can also verify therapeutic effectiveness on follow-up visits. This interprofessional team methodology will benefit the patient by increasing positive outcomes and minimizing adverse effects. The current evidence for treatment varies for each class and specific drug. Some medications have been thoroughly tested through randomized clinical trials, sometimes alone and sometimes in conjunction with other therapies. Other medications, such as cannabinoids, lack an in-depth level of testing and investigation. Interprofessional teams and thoughtful, appropriate prescribing methods will improve patient safety and outcomes.