[Antiemetic combination of metoclopramide and methylprednisolone for cisplatin-induced vomiting]

An antiemetic combination of metoclopramide and methylprednisolone was administered to 16 lung cancer patients receiving cisplatin (80 cmg/m2) alone or in combination with other drugs. Metoclopramide was administered four times intravenously at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg. Methylprednisolone was administered three times intravenously at a dose of 125 mg. Sixteen patients received a total of 34 chemotherapy courses. No vomiting occurred in 70% of 34 chemotherapy courses and mild emesis (one or two vomiting episodes) occurred in 18% of chemotherapy courses. Side effects were minimal and included mild sleepiness (nine patients), diarrhea (three patients), and hiccups (three patients). It is concluded that a combination of metoclopramide and methylprednisolone is very effective in preventing cisplatin-induced vomiting.