Alcohol Prep For Nausea

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46Young

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A co-worker advised me that having a pt smell an alcohol prep will cause nausea to subside. He said that some ED's are putting this into practice. Is there any validity to this? It seems a little far fetched.
 
Anecdotally yes, it does work. One of my good friends uses this on a regular basis, and I've used it also. I've never used it on a patient, but it does seem to work.
 
I'll tell you what DOESN'T work. Smelling Ammonia Inhalants.

Alcohol? Strange theory.

I think I'll just opt for the extra couple of dollars and use Zofran.
 
It works actually quite well from my expierence. Have no idea how or why, but it works
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll do some research, and ask my medical director for permission to try it.
 
Queeze eaze is the only thing that's ever worked for me..I've also seen it work on others. Typically if the patient is going to chuck..they have problems far beyond just feeling sicks and it's inevitable.
 
46Young said:
A co-worker advised me that having a pt smell an alcohol prep will cause nausea to subside. He said that some ED's are putting this into practice. Is there any validity to this? It seems a little far fetched.
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Well, I tried it once on myself and that almost did me in right there!
 
I've had it help with motion sickness before (it worked quickly for me, while waiting for the ginger ale to kick in)- so maybe if your patient is just getting carsick on top of whatever it is they're dealing with?

Though telling your partner to slow down would probably help too.:P
 
silver said:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14770380

here is an article stating how it is more likely due to the breathing control exercises.

pm me and i may be able to get you the full publication.
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Interesting. I'm wondering about just having patients smell isopropyl alcohol without the gauze-over-nose and deep breathing protocol. Most of the other studies I see are in obscure nursing journals to which I don't have access. Tentatively, though, I'd file this one under "useful placebo".
 
MrConspiracy said:
Interesting. I'm wondering about just having patients smell isopropyl alcohol without the gauze-over-nose and deep breathing protocol. Most of the other studies I see are in obscure nursing journals to which I don't have access. Tentatively, though, I'd file this one under "useful placebo".
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The sharp smell and breathing probably also gives them something to focus on other than the nausea.

What about using mint or ginger oil/diluted extract instead of alcohol? Those actually do help nausea when ingested, I wonder how smelling them would effect someone with nausea? Anyone know?
 
Kookaburra said:
The sharp smell and breathing probably also gives them something to focus on other than the nausea.

What about using mint or ginger oil/diluted extract instead of alcohol? Those actually do help nausea when ingested, I wonder how smelling them would effect someone with nausea? Anyone know?
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Per the study silver posted, peppermint doesn't help.
This review cites other studies that may indicate that it does, though I have a feeling that it is deep breathing + placebo as the first study indicated. I saw a few studies and meta-analyses on the effects of ginger PO for nausea, but nothing on the scent of ginger beyond a passing reference in the study above.
 
Well, I just tried it last night. And you know what, it worked. The person went from vomiting and dry heaving to... Nothing. Her stomach was still cramped up, but she said that she didn't feel like she had to heave anymore and thanked me over and over for such an amazing cure.

I warned her, however, to not go and start sniffing bottles of rubbing alcohol every time she felt a little queezy.

I don't know if it was placebo or what, but it worked out.
 
Did it this morning, and it seemed to work a tad but nothing more. Think the guy was a tad 'off' then he was making it seem
 
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