FOLFIRINOX Anti-Cancer Therapy Supportive Care Medications
Medications following Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Irinotecan, and Oxaliplatin
Please review the following education for supportive care medications to help relieve symptoms of nausea/vomiting and diarrhea after your treatment.
Nausea & Vomiting
Prochlorperazine (Compazine) 10 mg tablets
• Take 1 tablet (10 mg) by mouth every 6 hours as needed for nausea or vomiting
• This medication should be the first medication that you take if you are nauseous after treatment. If you are going home with a chemotherapy pump, this is the medication you may take until your pump is disconnected.
• This medication will take about 30 minutes to start working – take at the first sign of nausea or upset stomach
• This medication can cause you to feel tired. If you are experiencing this side effect, you may switch to ondansetron on the 3rd day after treatment.
Ondansetron (Zofran) 8 mg disintegrating tablets
• Dissolve 1 tablet (8 mg) under the tongue every 8 hours as needed for nausea or vomiting
• This medication can be taken in addition to prochlorperazine if you are nauseous after treatment. It can cause constipation, so be sure to add a stool softener or laxative every day while you are taking this medication if you experience this side effect.
• If you are going home with a pump, this medication should not be used until after the pump is disconnected. You will receive a long-acting version of this medication during your treatment.
• The disintegrating tablets may be swallowed whole if you do not like the taste
Dexamethasone (Decadron) 4 mg tablets
• Take 2 tablets (8 mg) by mouth in the morning with food on days 2, 3, and 4 of each cycle.
• This medication is used to prevent nausea or vomiting and should be taken even if you are not having symptoms.
• Take this medication as early in the day as possible. It can cause insomnia and restlessness.
Diarrhea
Loperamide (Imodium) 2 mg caplets
• This medication is available over the counter, but be aware that we recommend the following dosing:
• 1st Dose: Take 2 caplets (4 mg) at the first sign of diarrhea.
• Additional doses: Take 1 caplet (1 mg) every 4 hours or after each loose stool.
• Continue taking as directed above until no diarrhea for 12 hours