Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Carotid Artery Infusions for Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Taxanes in Mice
Published on: October 27, 2014
Histamine-2 (H2 ) antagonists can be safely removed from standard paclitaxel premedication regimens
Emma Foreman1, Calum Polwart2, Andrew Walker3
1The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Aims:
The aim of this study is to investigate the rates of hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) in patients receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy, with and without a histamine-2 (H2 ) antagonists.
Method:
This prospective, multi-centre, cohort study compared patients receiving paclitaxel treated with premedication regimens containing chlorphenamine, dexamethasone and an H2 antagonist vs patients treated without an H2 antagonist. Rates of HSRs were described and logistic multivariable regression was used to investigate any associations with H2 antagonist treatment, adjusting for confounding variables.
Results:
A total of 1043 individuals were included in the study; of these, 638 (61%) patients received an H2 antagonist and 405 (49%) were not given an H2 antagonist. Incidence of HSR in the cohort treated with H2 antagonists was 11.31% (n = 70) vs 9.86% (n = 41) in the cohort without. There was no statistically significant difference between the rates of HSR observed in those receiving and not receiving an H2 antagonist (odds ratio 1.04, 95% CI 0.65, 1.66, P = .9).
Conclusions:
Results presented within the study are consistent with other recently published evidence to suggest that H2 antagonists do not confer any advantage as part of premedication regimens in reducing the incidence of HSR in patients treated with paclitaxel.
Related Concept Videos
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonists
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme...
Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management

