ABH Mystery medication

i am new to the nursing world, just recently graduated in may, and i have become very interested in a medication my mother received while receiving chemotherapy. it was handwritten labeled abh capsules, take one pill q6h for nausea. now, i have found out that, i believe, it is ativan, benadryl, and haldol, however, what is confusing me is that all the information that i have found (which is very little) has been on hard and soft troches and gel or cream...not capsules, and my mom was told to swallow it like a pill (not to let it disolve like a troche). if anyone has any information, please let me know, as i am most curious. it could have been a research drug at the time, and if that is the case, she never signed informed consent either. please help! i know all you oncology and hospice nurses might have an idea! i'd appreciate any direction you can give me! Last edit by skyflutterby on Aug 15, '05
Quote from skyflutterbyi am new to the nursing world, just recently graduated in may, and i have become very interested in a medication my mother received while receiving chemotherapy. it was handwritten labeled abh capsules, take one pill q6h for nausea. now, i have found out that, i believe, it is ativan, benadryl, and haldol, however, what is confusing me is that all the information that i have found (which is very little) has been on hard and soft troches and gel or cream...not capsules, and my mom was told to swallow it like a pill (not to let it disolve like a troche). if anyone has any information, please let me know, as i am most curious. it could have been a research drug at the time, and if that is the case, she never signed informed consent either. please help! i know all you oncology and hospice nurses might have an idea! i'd appreciate any direction you can give me!

thank you very much siri! do you know where i can find information on it? i've tried researching it in every way possible, but it doesn't seem to come up with hardly anything about it!

Quote from skyflutterbythank you very much siri! do you know where I can find information on it?

Ativan, benedryl and haldol have been out for a very long time, and are used to prevent nausea. They are neither a research drug nor chemotherapy and do not require an informed consent. They are the same drugs used in regular med/surg...just all combined in one med. Many patients take them routinely to prevent nausea (even noncancer patients).These drugs would have been covered routinely in your nursing Pharm. class and/or Medsurg class as they are quite common.

Singularly, these 3 drugs are not primarily given for nausea. Ativan and haldol can be given as an adjunct (added to other medications) to prevent nausea and vomiting usually in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Neither haldol or ativan are indicated for nausea, but, they do offer antiemetic benefits.Compounded, they offer adequate antinauasea/antiemetic control.ABH is formulated as, cancer aid (specifically chemo-related nausea, hospice/pallative care, AIDS-related nausea.

Quote from siriSingularly, these 3 drugs are not primarily given for nausea. Ativan and haldol can be given as an adjunct (added to other medications) to prevent nausea and vomiting usually in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Neither haldol or ativan are indicated for nausea, but, they do offer antiemetic benefits.Compounded, they offer adequate antinauasea/antiemetic control.ABH is formulated as, cancer aid (specifically chemo-related nausea, hospice/pallative care, AIDS-related nausea.

Quote from siriMD Anderson hospital/institute first compounded this in capsule and suppository form for their patients with chemo-related nausea. I imagine you can do a search on their website regarding this.Community Drug Compounding Center at:www.communitydrug.comDo a search on transdermal gel, too:meeting.jco.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/16_supplI think those sites will help you with this drug/s

Quote from jsteine1Sloan Kettering used siomething for chemo related nausea they called a "bromptons cocktail", all liquid, the amount of a shot glass full. Do you remember the three drugs that were in there? I just cant recall.

Quote from siriYes, this mixture was morphine, cocaine, chlorpromazine, alcohol and syrup with flavoring added. If I am not mistaken, this was first used in patients experiencing post thoracotomy pain. Heroin was sometimes used in this mixture as well.

Quote from jsteine1Thanks!

(late entry....just because i just joined the forum today!)we use this a lot for our patients with severe n/v...however, ours is compounded with an additional ingredient...ABHR...ativan/benedryl/haldol/and....Reglan!works like a charm!my best,laura

Then there is A/B/H/R which is the noted meds plus reglan.... Works wonders for dying patients with unstoppable N/V...Quote from caroladybelleAtivan, benedryl and haldol have been out for a very long time, and are used to prevent nausea. They are neither a research drug nor chemotherapy and do not require an informed consent. They are the same drugs used in regular med/surg...just all combined in one med. Many patients take them routinely to prevent nausea (even noncancer patients).These drugs would have been covered routinely in your nursing Pharm. class and/or Medsurg class as they are quite common.