Is there an alternative to corticosteroids to control vomiting during chemotherapy? A new study attempts to find out

The study addresses an important gap in paediatric oncology, but its findings need to be interpreted within the limits of its design |Image used for representational purpose only | Photo Credit: AFP Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are among the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment in children. Preventing them is essential not only to improve quality of life, but also to help patients complete treatment. Yet the medicines used to prevent vomiting can themselves cause adverse effects, making the search for safe alternatives an important challenge in paediatric oncology.An Indian multicentre clinical trial suggests that olanzapine may offer an alternative to dexamethasone, a corticosteroid routinely used to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy — treatment with a high risk of inducing vomiting. The current regimen using dexamethasone is a guideline that is used regularly, but dexamethasone is a corticosteroid. The study was aimed at finding a comparable, non-corticosteroid option. Published - November 01, 2026 07:00 pm IST