S. Chiara et al., PREVENTION OF DELAYED EMESIS WITH METOCLOPRAMIDE AND DEXAMETHASONE INPATIENTS RECEIVING MODERATELY EMETOGENIC CYTOTOXIC TREATMENT, Anticancer research, 15(4), 1995, pp. 1597-1599
Forty-three untreated cancer patients receiving moderately emetogenic
polychemotherapy entered a phase II trial in order to evaluate the eff
ectiveness of the combination of metoclopramide (40 mg every 6 hrs) an
d dexamethasone (8 mg every 12 hrs) in the prevention of delayed emesi
s (days 2-3). For the control of acute emesis all patients received on
day 1 ondansetron 8 mg for 3 times. Results of antiemetic treatment w
ere as follows: complete/major protection from acute emesis (day 1) wa
s observed in 72%/88% of patients. Worst day analysis of delayed emesi
s (days 2 and 3) showed that complete/major protection was obtained in
93%/95% of cases, respectively. Delayed nausea was not as well contro
lled: complete/major protection was observed in 44%/79% of patients. E
xtrapyramidal reactions occurred in 3 patients and moderate epigastric
pain was reported by 3 patients. Since control of acute emesis could
be one of the most important factors influencing delayed emesis; the a
bsence of acute symptoms in 72% of our patients may be partially respo
nsible for the excellent control of delayed emesis. The combination of
metoclopramide and dexamethasone is a feasible and effective treatmen
t for delayed emesis in outpatients receiving moderately emetogenic ch
emotherapy.