ONDANSETRON USAGE IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS - A PILOT-STUDY ON THE CONTROL OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN PATIENTS ON HIGH-DOSE COTRIMOXAZOLE FORPNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII PNEUMONIA

This was an open, single centre study, to evaluate the safety and effi cacy of ondansetron in the treatment of co-trimoxazole associated naus ea and vomiting in AIDS patients. Sixteen patients presenting with the ir first episode of HIV-associated Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP ) on high dose co-trimoxazole were given ondansetron 8 mg orally, ever y 8 h. Measurements were made from data recorded by each patient on di ary cards. In this study 11 out of 16 (69%) patients on ondansetron ex perienced good control of emesis (2 or less emetic episodes) on their 'worst day' of therapy and 8 out of 16 (50%) of patients demonstrated good control of emesis throughout their treatment with co-trimoxazole. Good control of nausea (mild or none) was achieved in 7 out of 16 (47 %) patients. A total of 7 patients were able to complete the full cour se of co-trimoxazole whilst on ondansetron. One serious adverse event (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) was reported and felt to be unrelated to on dansetron. If conventional anti-emetics fail to achieve control of sym ptoms or have unacceptable side effects, ondansetron may represent a p ossible alternative.