DIMENHYDRINATE PRETREATMENT IN PATIENTS RECEIVING INTRAARTERIAL IOXAGLATE - EFFECT ON NAUSEA AND VOMITING

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of the antihistamine dimenhy drinate (Dramamine) as a prophylactic agent against the nausea and vom iting that occasionally accompany the use of ioxaglate. PATIENTS AND M ETHODS: Three hundred patients (165 men and 135 women, ranging in age from 18 to 89 [mean 62] years) undergoing noncoronary arteriography re ceived dimenhydrinate or placebo before the injection of the low-osmol ality contrast material ioxaglate (Hexabrix). The patients were observ ed and questioned about nausea and vomiting, as well as many other pos sible reactions to the contrast material. RESULTS: There were no stati stical differences in the occurrence of adverse reactions between the groups receiving dimenhydrinate and placebo (chi(2) or Fisher's exact test, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dimenhydrinate, as administered in this s tudy, was ineffective as a prophylactic agent against adverse reaction s accompanying administration of ioxaglate.