TROPISETRON COMPARED WITH A METOCLOPRAMIDE-BASED REGIMEN IN THE PREVENTION OF CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED NAUSEA AND VOMITING

This randomised, open, parallel group study compared the antiemetic ef ficacy and tolerability of tropisetron with metoclopramide plus loraze pam in 102 patients receiving a first course of non-cisplatin-containi ng chemotherapy. Control of acute vomiting by tropisetron was signific antly superior to that of the metoclopramide regimen, with total contr ol (no vomiting) in 45% of 51 patients in the tropisetron group compar ed with 22% of 51 patients in the metoclopramide group (P = 0.013); to tal and partial control (< 5 vomits) occurred in 67 and 47% of patient s, respectively (P = 0.044). The incidences of acute nausea and of del ayed nausea and emesis were similar in the two treatment groups. Both tropisetron and metoclopramide were well tolerated; no adverse effects were attributed to tropisetron administration with the exception of h eadache. One patient in the metoclopramide group reported confusion an d tremor thought to be related to the antiemetic therapy. Tropisetron is an effective and well-tolerated agent in the prevention of chemothe rapy-induced vomiting. The control of acute nausea was similar in the two treatment groups, but tropisetron was superior to a metoclopramide -based regimen in the control of acute vomiting.