Drugs for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in adults in the emergency department setting

This Cochrane review pooled every qualifying randomized trial of anti-nausea drugs for adults in emergency departments: 8 trials covering 952 patients.

Most standard antiemetics did not prove statistically better than placebo; only droperidol showed a significant benefit, and only in one small 48-person trial.

The reviewers highlighted that placebo-group patients frequently reported clinically meaningful relief, suggesting supportive care alone may be enough for many people. Reported side effects were generally mild.

The authors cautioned that the evidence base is thin and of low quality. The takeaway is nuanced: nausea care works, but it is hard to prove any single ingredient is the active one.