What common side effect should be monitored in a patient taking cyclophosphamide?

Monitoring for nausea in a patient taking cyclophosphamide is essential due to the drug's well-documented emetic potential. Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent used in chemotherapy, and it can cause significant gastrointestinal side effects, particularly nausea and vomiting. These side effects typically occur due to the drug's impact on rapidly dividing cells in the gastrointestinal tract.

Patients may experience this side effect soon after administration or even several days later, necessitating preemptive anti-nausea medication to improve comfort and treatment adherence. Recognizing and managing nausea effectively can contribute significantly to a patient's quality of life during chemotherapy.

In contrast, while drowsiness, constipation, and increased appetite can occur with various medications, they are not commonly associated with cyclophosphamide. Drowsiness may arise from other medications or conditions, and increased appetite is not a typical response to chemotherapy agents like cyclophosphamide, which often lead to decreased appetite.