Intranasal metoclopramide

Intranasal metoclopramide is a new formulation of an established and effect ive antiemetic drug. Absorption after intranasal administration was lower than after oral or int ravenous administration; otherwise the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of the intranasal and parenteral formulations were similar. Intranasal and intramuscular metoclopramide showed similar efficacy in the control of acute emesis induced by moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in 12 patients, Intranasal metoclopramide 80mg significantly reduced the frequen cy of acute vomiting in 43 patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherap y, A pilot study suggested that intranasal metoclopramide, with or without dex amethasone, may reduce cisplatin-induced delayed emesis, In a randomised cr ossover trial in 40 patients, intranasal metoclopramide or oral metoclopram ide, both with dexamethasone, were equally effective in the control of dela yed emesis induced by moderately-emetogenic chemotherapy. One 30 patient study suggests that intranasal metoclopramide has similar ef ficacy to oral metoclopramide in the treatment of functional dyspepsia, A non-significant trend to reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting has b een seen in two trials of intranasal metoclopramide. Intranasal metoclopramide caused minor irritation of the nasal membrane and unpleasant taste in some patients, but was otherwise well tolerated. None of the more serious extrapyramidal effects sometimes associated with metocl opramide were reported.