Granisetron Transdermal System: A New Option to Help Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

Transdermal medication delivery systems provide systemic therapy by passive diffusion through the skin. They offer an alternative route of medication administration and may be well suited for patients who are unable to take or retain oral medications. Granisetron transdermal system (Sancuso (R), ProStrakan, Inc.) is the first transdermal medication patch indicated for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy. As with all transdermal medications, safety considerations exist with respect to storing, handling, applying, and disposing of the granisetron transdermal system. Oncology nurses should be aware of new developments in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and knowledgeable about transdermal medication delivery.