Safest Medications, Drugs and Anaesthesia for Emetophobes

Much medication is associated with nausea and vomiting as a potential side effect. However, judging by many emetophobes' experiences, there seem to be some relatively 'safer' drugs which may form the medication of choice should you require drug treatment in the near future. These are listed, as follows:

ANALGESIA:

Choose ibuprofen, paracetamol, diclofenac

Avoid : morphine, pethidine, meptazinol, phenazocine

For severe pain when morphine would normally be prescribed, ask instead for Nalbuphine which has similar analgesic properties but a lower risk of nausea/vomiting.

ANTI-BIOTICS:

Choose: clarithromycin, any of the cephalosporins such as cephalexin, cefaclor, ceftibuten (less than 3% risk of nausea), fosfomycin

Avoid: erythromycin (or take lower dose of 125mg), co-trimoxazole, metronidazole (very nauseating)

ANTI-FUNGAL DRUGS:

Choose: flucanozole or terbinafine (can cause nausea but vomiting not listed)

ANTI-VIRAL DRUGS:

Choose: acyclovir, amantadine hydrochloride or famciclovir - both can cause nausea but vomiting is not listed

CONTRACEPTION:

Gut Reaction members seem to highly recommend MARVELON which can cause mild nausea for the first week after which no member has experienced any adverse side-effects. Other members recommend: Microgynon 30 , Ovranette (for anyone sensitive to artificial colourings) or TriNovum. Generally, Pills containing the progestogen Levonorgestrel, rather than Norethisterone, have lower risks of nausea or vomiting. Altough members have not experienced nausea/vomiting with Deop-Provera, there have been other problems including headaches and prolonged bleeding - and members do not recommend it.  

For anyone faced with having to take the 'morning after' pill (PC4), this has a high risk of nausea/vomiting so it's best to take it with an anti-emetic drug.  Some people also recommend taking it with food and most seem to rest afterwards or try to sleep to block any worries of side-effects from their minds.

INDIGESTION:

Avoid: Pepcid-AC as this has been linked with vomiting.

see also : anaesthesia