Antiemetics
Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.
Antiemetics
Examples: metoclopramide, ondansetron, promethazine, scopolamine, dronabinol, aprepitant
Mechanism
Reduces nausea through different pathways, including serotonin, dopamine, histamine, muscarinic, cannabinoid, and NK1 receptor effects.
Used for
- Nausea and vomiting
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Postoperative nausea and vomiting
- Motion sickness prevention for selected agents
Side effects
- Sedation
- QT prolongation for selected agents
- Extrapyramidal symptoms for dopamine antagonists
- Anticholinergic effects for selected agents
- Serious skin or allergy reactions for selected agents
Nursing actions
- Assess hydration, emesis pattern, bowel sounds, mental status, and response to therapy.
- Match safety checks to the specific antiemetic instead of treating the class as interchangeable.
- Question priority cues such as dysrhythmia symptoms, severe sedation, EPS, allergic reaction, or obstruction signs.
Hold / question cues
- Suspected GI obstruction or bleeding before a pro-motility antiemetic
- Syncope, palpitations, or major electrolyte abnormality with QT-risk agents
- Severe sedation, respiratory depression, EPS, or allergic reaction
Antidote / reversal
- No universal antiemetic antidote is seeded; stop/question the offending agent, support ABCs, and follow drug-specific rescue guidance such as EPS treatment when ordered.
NCLEX pearl
- Antiemetic questions are drug-specific: QT, EPS, sedation, anticholinergic effects, and interaction teaching drive the safest answer.
Individual drug cards
Involuntary movements, dystonia, or mental status change after dosing is not routine nausea care.
Palpitations or syncope after an antiemetic may signal QT trouble.
Respiratory depression with a sedating antiemetic is an airway priority.
Eye pain or halos after patch exposure can indicate angle-closure glaucoma.
Hallucinations, severe confusion, syncope, or chest pain are priority findings.
Rash with mucosal involvement is not a minor side effect.
Related study cards
Shows conditions, glossary terms, Drive entities, and source-linked cards connected to this medication class.
Rash with mucosal involvement is not a minor side effect.
Hallucinations, severe confusion, syncope, or chest pain are priority findings.
Involuntary movements, dystonia, or mental status change after dosing is not routine nausea care.
Palpitations or syncope after an antiemetic may signal QT trouble.
Respiratory depression with a sedating antiemetic is an airway priority.
Eye pain or halos after patch exposure can indicate angle-closure glaucoma.