Non-pharmacological approach in the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Abstract

Nausea and vomiting are the most common side effects referred by patients receiving chemotherapy.
These effects assume a negative impact in patient’s quality of life with consequences in their daily life activities, complications such as anorexia and nutritional deficits, increasing the morbidity with social and economical consequences, as well as patient’s survival status. The antiemetic often used as a prophylactic treatment for induced chemotherapy nausea and vomiting are the 5HT3 receptor antagonists (first and second generation); corticosteroids; dopamine receptor antagonists and NK1 receptor antagonists. Despite the pharmacological advances, nausea and vomiting remain a significant problem.
The non pharmacological approach can be used as a complementary method. Acupuncture is the only alternative practice which efficacy was accepted by the international medical community. There are few trials that prove the acupuncture efficacy in the control of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, but the ones that were published prove its advantage. Although this practice isn’t included in the Portuguese health system, the number of countries that use it as an alternative method is increasing.