Not all drugs that are used in chemotherapy have the same risk of nausea and vomiting. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has developed a rating system for chemotherapy drugs and their risk of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting. Here is a list of agents that may be used in lymphomas according to their risk group.
High risk of nausea and vomiting:
Vomiting occurs in more than 90% of patients with the following drugs:
- mechlorethamine
- cyclophosphamide (in high doses)
- dacarbazine
- dactinomycin
- cisplatin
Moderate risk of nausea and vomiting:
Vomiting occurs in 30% to 90% of patients treated with these drugs:
- cyclophosphamide (in moderate doses)
- doxorubicin
- daunorubicin
- epirubicin
- cytarabine (in high doses)
- ifosfamide
- carboplatin
Low risk of nausea and vomiting:
Vomiting occurs in 10% to 30% of patients treated with these drugs:
- mitoxantrone
- etoposide
- methotrexate
- cytarabine (in moderate doses)
- bortezomib
- paclitaxel
Minimal risk of nausea and vomiting:
Vomiting occurs in fewer than 10% of patients:
- rituximab
- bleomycin
- vinblastine
- vincristine
- busulphan
- fludarabine
To learn more about this treatment related side-effect, read he article 4 Questions on Chemotherapy Related Nuasea and Vomiting.
