An overview of chemotherapy-induced emesis highlighting the role of lorazepam as adjuvant therapy.

By preventing and optimizing emesis control in patients receiving chemotherapy, clinicians may significantly improve patients' functional status and quality of life. Improved tolerability may lead to greater patient acceptance of chemotherapy and prevent premature withdrawal or cessation of treatment. Controlling chemotherapy-induced emesis also helps to decrease the direct and indirect costs of managing cancer. This article reviews improvements made in antiemetic therapy and considers how the addition of lorazepam may further optimize the prevention and management of emesis at various stages of manifestation.