Comparison of different schedules of ondansetron (GR 38032F) administration during cisplatin-based chemotherapy: a...

The purpose of our study was to evaluate different schedules of ondansetron administration in cisplatin-induced emesis. All patients had previously received 2 cycles of CDDP-based chemotherapy in a dose of 100 mg/m2. Ondansetron was given by two schedules. Group A (45 patients) received a dose of 1 ampoule of 8 mg in 100 ml normal saline in a 10-min intravenous infusion before the infusion of CDDP; this was continued by 1 tablet of 8 mg in the afternoon and 1 before sleeping on the first day. For the next 3 days, the patients received 3 tablets of 8 mg daily. In group B (45 patients) the same doses were used at the same time and by the same route as in group A, except on the first day when all the dosages were intravenous. Nausea persisted for a longer time (A = 177 +/- 271 min, B = 78 +/- 83 min, p < 0.022), and it was intenser in group A (grade 0, p < 0.036, grade 1, p < 0.050) in comparison with group B. More patients of group B achieved complete (p < 0.015) and minor (p < 0.050) control of emesis, on the other hand group A presented an increased number with major (p < 0.015) and failure (p < 0.069) of control of emesis. There was no difference in nausea and vomiting for the next 3 days nor any difference in secondary side effects. We conclude that the intravenous administration schedule has shown superior antiemetic efficacy in patients who received cisplatin during the first 24 h.