A Double-Blind Trial Comparing Antiemetic Efficacy and Toxicity of Metoclopramide Versus Methylprednisolone Versus Domperidone in Patients Receiving Doxorubicin Chemotherapy Alone or in Combination with Other Antiblastic Agents

Abstract

Nausea and vomiting are reported in .apprx. 60% of neoplastic patients treated with doxorubicin used alone at doses .gtoreq. 50 mg/m2 or in combination with other noncisplatin antiblastic agents. In a double-blind study we compared the efficacy and tolerability of metoclopramide (MTC) versus Domperidone (DMP) versus methylprednisolone (MP) administered intravenously (i.v.) to inpatients. Forty-four patients entered the trial. The three antiemetic regiments were found equally effective. A complete protection from vomiting/nausea was obtained in 14/11 (93.3%/73.3%) of patients treated with MTC, in 15/14 (100%/93%) of those treated with MP and in 11/11 (78.6%/78.6%) of those treated with DMP. Side effects were slight and not significantly different among the three regimens. In conclusion, i.v. MTC and MP (DMP is no longer available in i.v. formulation) as single agents are an adequate treatments for prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by doxorubicin alone or in combination with other noncisplatin antiblastic agents.