COMPARISON OF THE EFFICACY AND SIDE-EFFECTS OF ONDANSETRON AND METOCLOPRAMIDE-DIPHENHYDRAMINE ADMINISTERED TO CONTROL NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH ANTINEOPLASTIC CHEMOTHERAPY - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY

Nausea and vomiting following antineoplastic therapy in patients recei ving chemotherapy remains a problem, To prevent nausea and vomiting du e to antineoplastic therapy, many types of drugs have been used. Ondan setron and the combination metoclopramide-diphenhydramine have been wi dely used in children. In this prospective randomized study these drug s were compared both for their efficacy and side-effects in children t reated with antineoplastic chemotherapy (with and without cisplatin) t he number of chemotherapy courses being equal in both groups. Ondanset ron gave complete anti-emetic cover in five of nine courses in patient s treated with cisplatin. Metoclopramide-diphenhydramine gave complete anti-emetic cover in one out of nine courses, and 17 out of 23 course s in patients treated without cisplatin. Metoclopramide-diphenhydramin e produced side effects in nine courses whereas ondansetron produced s ide-effects in three courses. Conclusion Ondansetron appeared;to be su perior to metoclopramide-diphenhydramine in the control of emesis indu ced by chemotherapy regimens containing cisplatin. The results of the present prospective randomized study indicate thai: ondansetron is a u seful anti-emetic in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced emesis.