Randomized, multicenter comparison of oral granisetron and oral ondansetron for emetogenic chemotherapy

Study Objectives. To compare the antiemetic effectiveness and safety of ora l granisetron plus dexamethasone with those of oral ondansetron plus dexame thasone administered before emetogenic chemotherapy. Design. Randomized, prospective, multicenter, open-label study. Settings. University-teaching hospital and veterans health care system. Patients. Sixty-one chemotherapy-naive patients scheduled to receive emetog enic antineoplastic agents. Intervention. A single-dose oral granisetron 1 mg and dexamethasone 12 mg o r single-dose oral ondansetron 16 mg and dexamethasone 12 mg was administer ed before chemotherapy. Measurements and Results. Twenty-four hours after administration patients w ere contacted to assess nausea, emesis, and adverse events. There were no s tatistical differences in frequency of nausea or emesis between groups. Sev enty-six percent and 82% of patients receiving ondansetron and granisetron, respectively, experienced no emesis 24 hours after chemotherapy. Complete protection from nausea occurred in 58% and 46% of patients receiving the dr ugs, respectively. Adverse events were similar between groups. Conclusion. Oral granisetron 1 mg and ondansetron 16 mg plus dexamethasone are safe and effective in preventing nausea and vomiting related to emetoge nic chemotherapy.