[Usefulness of alprazolam in controlling cisplatin-induced emesis]

Usefulness of alprazolam for control of chemotherapy-induced emesis including 5-day continuous intravenous infusion of cisplatin for advanced lung cancer was evaluated by a randomized crossover design. Of 22 cases evaluated, 8 in the alprazolam group and 1 in the untreated group were free from nausea and vomiting (p less than 0.01). The mean frequency of vomiting in the alprazolam group was 1.18 times, which is significantly smaller than 2.25 times in the untreated group (p less than 0.05). The mean duration of vomiting and nausea was significantly shorter in the alprazolam group (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.05). It is thus concluded that concomitant therapy with the minor tranquilizer alprazolam is useful in treating cisplatin-induced acute or delayed emesis in which psychological and psychiatric factors are involved.