Antiemetic efficacy of prochlorperazine, haloperidol, and droperidol in cisplatin-induced emesis

The antiemetic efficacy of haloperidol, droperidol, and prochlorperazine in preventing cisplatin-induced emesis was evaluated. Twenty-seven patients receiving 51 courses of cisplatin chemotherapy randomly received antiemetic treatment with prochlorperazine (6 mg/sq m), droperidol (1 mg/sq m), or haloperidol (1 mg/sq m) in a double-blind crossover study. Antiemetics were given by intramuscular injection one hour before beginning cisplatin and every three hours thereafter for a total of six doses. The number of emetic episodes, volume of emesis, and duration of the emetic episodes were monitored by oncology nurses. There were no significant differences in the median number of emetic episodes among antiemetic treatments: 3.5 for prochlorperazine, 4.0 for haloperidol, and 3.0 for droperidol. There were also no significant differences among the antiemetics in the median volume of emesis or the median duration of the emetic episodes. At the doses used in this study, the antiemetic efficacy of prochlorperazine, droperidol, and haloperidol appear to be comparable for patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy.