Comparison of antiemetic efficacy of domperidone, metoclopramide, and dexamethasone in patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy regimens.

Comparison of antiemetic efficacy of domperidone, metoclopramide, and dexamethasone in patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy regimensNausea and vomiting during treatment with cytotoxic drugs lead to appreciable morbidity and in one study were considered to be the worst symptoms of chemotherapy.'Several antiemetic regimens have been developed to combat this problem, but many are either not totally effective or associated with appreciable toxicity, such as drowsiness and dryness ofthe mouth.24 Metoclopramide, dexamethasone, and domperidone are widely used in clinical practice, but so far there has been no randomised trial to investigate which is most effective. Patients, methods, and resultsSixty consecutive patients (39 women, 21 men; mean age 59, range 21-87 years) receiving chemotherapy without cisplatin were entered in the trial.Five had received previous chemotherapy.Chemotherapy was divided into regimens of high emetogenic potential (those containing intravenous doxorubicin, epirubicin,