Croatian guideliness for prevention of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting

Approximately 70-80% of all cancer patients receiving chemotherapy experience nausea and/or vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are important side effects of cancer treatment, which can significantly affect a patient's quality of life, leading to poor compliance with further chemotherapy treatment. The main principle of emesis control is prevention. Currently available antiemetic agents corticosteroids, 5-hydroxytriptamine receptor antagonists, and neurokinin-1 antagonists, are used alone or in combination. Antiemetic regimen should be chosen based on the emetogenic potential of the chemotherapy regimen, previous experience with antiemetics, and patient-specific risk factors. Newer agents, including second generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist palonosetron and the NK-1 antagonist aprepitant, offer additional clinical benefit in highly and moderately emetogenic therapy, especially in delayed nausea and vomiting. The aim of this Guidelines is to achieve same standards of care in the treatment of nausea and vomiting across Croatia that are applicable in our environment--only available drugs are included in the Guidelines.