Alizapride, a new substituted benzamide, as an antiemetic during cancer chemotherapy

In early clinical trials alizapride showed a better antiemetic activity with fewer side effects than metoclopramide. Alizapride has now been evaluated in an open dose-ranging study in 24 patients receiving strongly emetic chemotherapy. Alizapride 4-8 mg/kg was given as a 15 min infusion 0.5 h before and 1.5, 3.5, 5.5 and 8.5 h after the chemotherapy. At the dose levels of 6 and 8 mg/kg x 5, respectively 6 out-of 9 and 4 of 4 patients experienced side effects (hypotension, dizziness, profuse sweating, general malaise and diarrhoea). At 4 mg/kg x 54 of 15 patients experienced side effects due to alizapride (dyspnoea 1, diarrhoea 2, extrapyramidal syndrome 1 patient). Overall, 9 of 24 patients were partially or completely protected from nausea and vomiting. Based on this experience alizapride has antiemetic activity and few side effects in the dose of 4 mg/kg x 5.