Comparative evaluation of the clinical efficacy and safety of ondansetron and metoclopramide in the prophylaxis of emesis induced by cancer chemotherapy regimens including cisplatin.

The efficacy and safety of ondansetron was evaluated and compared with metoclopramide in 93 patients receiving cisplatin containing cancer chemotherapy in a randomized, parallel group study. 8 mg Ondansetron i.v. was administered prior to chemotherapy followed by two further doses of 8 mg i.v. over the first 24 hours. Ondansetron 8 mg b.d. was then administered orally for the next 5 days. The metoclopramide dosage was 20 mg i.v. prior to chemotherapy followed by 2 i.v. doses of 10 mg each, 4 hours apart. For the next 5 days, an oral dose of 20 mg metoclopramide was administered. The anti-emetic efficacy of ondansetron as a prophylactic treatment was found to be significantly more effective than metoclopramide both during the acute and delayed phase of nausea and vomiting. Both treatments were well tolerated with no reported side-effects.