Comparison of the neurokinin-1 antagonist GR205171, alone and in combination with the 5-HT3 antagonist ondansetron, hyoscine and placebo in the prevention of motion-induced nausea in man. (49/720)

AIMS: In man a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist has previously been shown to be ineffective in the prevention of motion-induced nausea. The antiemetic efficacy of NK1 receptor antagonists against chemotherapy-induced emesis is, however, enhanced when combined with a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. Hence the efficacy of the NK1 antagonist GR205171 in combination with the 5-HT3 antagonist ondansetron (Zofrantrade mark) was assessed in motion-induced nausea. METHODS: GR205171 25 mg i.v., with and without concomitant administration of ondansetron 8 mg i.v., and hyoscine hydrobromide 0. 6 mg orally (positive control) were compared with placebo in a model of motion-induced nausea. The study was performed to a four-period, randomized, balanced, double-blind, crossover design in 16 healthy subjects. The end-point was the exposure to the motion stimulus required to produce moderate nausea in the subjects. RESULTS: The motion stimulus required to produce moderate nausea was significantly greater for the positive control than placebo (P < 0. 001). There was no significant difference between either GR205171 or GR205171 plus ondansetron and placebo (P = 0.648 and 0.342, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The enhancement of NK1 receptor antagonist antiemetic activity through combination with a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist is not replicated in motion-induced nausea.  (+info)

The emetic and anti-emetic effects of the capsaicin analogue resiniferatoxin in Suncus murinus, the house musk shrew. (50/720)

1. In SUNCUS: murinus the ultrapotent capsaicin analogue resiniferatoxin (RTX) induced an emetic response in the dose range 1 - 1000 microg kg(-1), s.c. The latency was inversely related to dose and ranged from 41.2+/-4.4 min. (1 microg kg(-1), s.c.) to 2.7+/-0.6 min. (1000 microg kg(-1), s.c.). 2. The emetic response to RTX (10 or 100 microg kg(-1), s.c.) was blocked or markedly reduced by pre-treatment with RTX (100 microg kg(-1), s.c.), 8-OH-DPAT (100 microg kg(-1), s.c.), morphine (2 mg kg(-1), s.c.), neonatal capsaicin (100 mg kg(-1), s.c.) and the NK(1) receptor antagonist CP-99,994 (10 - 20 mg kg(-1), s.c.) but not by the 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist tropisetron (200 microg kg(-1), s.c.). 3. RTX (100 microg kg(-1), s.c.) induced c-fos-like immunoreactivity in the area postrema and parts of the nucleus tractus solitarius. This pattern is consistent with the proposal that the emetic effect is mediated via one or both of these structures and an involvement of substance P is discussed. 4. RTX (10 and 100 microg kg(-1), s.c.) had broad-spectrum antiemetic effects in Suncus as indicated by its ability to block or markedly reduce the emetic response to motion (1 Hz, 4 cm lateral, 10 min.), cisplatin (20 mg kg(-1), i.p.), intragastric copper sulphate (40 mg kg(-1), p.o.), nicotine (10 mg kg(-1), s.c.) and RTX (100 microg kg(-1), s.c.) itself. 5. It is proposed that the site of the anti-emetic effect is in the nucleus tractus solitarius and mechanisms involving the modulation of substance P release are discussed. 6. The general utility of SUNCUS: for investigations of vanilloid receptors is reviewed in the light of the exquisite sensitivity of the emetic reflex in this species to resiniferatoxin.  (+info)

Double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study on the efficacy and safety of oral granisetron and oral ondansetron in the prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving hyperfractionated total body irradiation. (51/720)

The efficacy and safety of granisetron and ondansetron for the prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting resulting from hyperfractionated total body irradiation (TBI) were assessed. Thirty-four patients randomly received double-blind, oral granisetron (2 mg, 1 h before first daily fraction of radiation) or ondansetron (8 mg, 1.5 h prior to each fraction of TBI). Ninety patients who received the same TBI regimen prior to bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but no 5-HT3-receptor antagonist, were identified and comprised the historical control group. By design, this study was only powered to show a difference between each of the active treatment groups and the historical control group. Significantly more patients given granisetron (33.3%) or ondansetron (26.7%) had zero emetic episodes over 4 days, the primary efficacy end point, than those in the historical control group (0%) (P < 0.01; intent-to-treat). Secondary efficacy end points were also evaluated. During the first 24 h, significantly more patients taking granisetron (61.1%) or ondansetron (46.7%) had zero emetic episodes than patients in the historical control group (6.7%) (P < 0.01). Complete emetic control (no emesis or rescue antiemetic) over 4 days was more frequent in patients taking granisetron (27.8%) or ondansetron (26.7%) compared with the historical control group (0%) (P < 0.01). Significantly fewer patients taking granisetron (18/18), but not those taking ondansetron (12/15), experienced more than five emetic episodes during the 4 days of the study compared with the historical control group (40/90; P < 0.01). Oral granisetron and ondansetron are safe and effective for the prevention of nausea and vomiting resulting from TBI.  (+info)

A comparison of antiemetic efficacy of droperidol alone and in combination with metoclopramide in day surgery anaesthesia. (52/720)

We have studied the antiemetic efficacy of droperidol alone, and in combination with metoclopramide in first trimester termination of pregnancy in day surgery. The aim was to determine whether the addition of metoclopramide could further reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) but avoid excessive sedation. Group I (control, n = 40) received i.v. droperidol 0.625 mg at induction. Group II (study, n = 40) received i.v. droperidol 0.625 mg and i.v. metoclopramide 10 mg at induction. The incidence of nausea at 1 and 2 hours postoperatively was 23% and 10% in group I, and 5% and nil in group II respectively. The difference in the incidence of nausea was significant at p < 0.05 at one hour but not at two hours postoperatively. No patients vomited. There was no difference in the sedation and pain score between them. We did not observe any significant side effects attributable to either drug. All patients were discharged home within 3 hours. We conclude that in the prevention of PONV, the combination of metoclopramide and droperidol is superior to the use of droperidol alone at one hour but not at two hours postoperatively.  (+info)

Pre-admission management of acute gastroenteritis in children: too much or too little? (53/720)

Two hundred and ninety five children admitted with acute gastroenteritis from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996 to the Paediatric unit, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, were reviewed. Eighty-nine percent of children received treatment before admission. Information regarding the type of treatment received were available in 152 (52%) cases. Eighty percent of them were prescribed medications, 40% were prescribed glucose-electrolyte mixtures, and 13% were advised a change of formula. Only 18 children (12%) were advised to take glucose-electrolyte mixtures alone. The four most common prescribed drugs were: antibiotics (43%), antipyretics (39%), antidiarrhoeal agents (30%), and antiemetics (24%). The use of antibiotics, antiemetics and antidiarrhoeal drugs for children with acute gastroenteritis among primary care doctors appears to be common. The use of glucose-electrolyte mixtures was uncommon.  (+info)

The involvement of flavin-containing monooxygenase but not CYP3A4 in metabolism of itopride hydrochloride, a gastroprokinetic agent: comparison with cisapride and mosapride citrate. (54/720)

The goals of the present study were to identify the enzyme responsible for metabolism of itopride hydrochloride (itopride) and to evaluate the likelihood of drug interaction involving itopride. In human liver microsomes, the involvement of flavin-containing monooxygenase in N-oxygenation, the major metabolic pathway of itopride, was indicated by the following results: inhibition by methimazole and thiourea, heat inactivation, and protection against heat inactivation by NADPH. When the effects of ketoconazole on the metabolism of itopride, cisapride, and mosapride citrate (mosapride) were examined using human liver microsomes, ketoconazole strongly inhibited the formation of the primary metabolites of cisapride and mosapride, but not itopride. Other cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 inhibitors, cimetidine, erythromycin, and clarithromycin, also inhibited the metabolism of cisapride and mosapride. In an in vivo study, itopride (30 mg/kg), cisapride (1.5 mg/kg), or mosapride (3 mg/kg) was orally administered to male rats with or without oral pretreatment with ketoconazole (120 mg/kg) twice daily for 2 days. The ketoconazole pretreatment significantly increased the area under the serum concentration curve and the maximum serum concentration of cisapride and mosapride but had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of itopride. In addition, itopride did not inhibit five specific CYP-mediated reactions of human liver microsomes. These results suggest that itopride is unlikely to alter the pharmacokinetics of other concomitantly administered drugs.  (+info)

Contribution of dexamethasone to control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis of randomized evidence. (55/720)

PURPOSE: To synthesize the available randomized evidence on the efficacy of dexamethasone when used for protection against acute and delayed nausea and vomiting in patients receiving highly or moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed using trials identified through MEDLINE (1966 to April 1999), Embase, Derwent Drug File, and the Cochrane Library's Database of Controlled Trials. Data on acute and delayed emesis and nausea were collected. All randomized studies comparing dexamethasone to placebo, no treatment, or other antiemetics qualified, including cross-over trials providing first-cycle data. RESULTS: Of 1,200 citations screened, 32 studies with 42 pertinent comparisons and 5,613 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Dexamethasone was superior to placebo or no treatment for complete protection from acute emesis (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89 to 2.60) and for complete protection from delayed emesis (odds ratio, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.63 to 2.56). The results were similar for complete protection from nausea. The pooled risk difference for complete protection from emesis was 16% for both the acute and delayed phases (95% CI, 13% to 19% and 11% to 20%, respectively). The beneficial effect was similar in subgroups defined by various study design parameters. No trial addressed the efficacy of dexamethasone in the delayed phase without having administered dexamethasone for acute-phase protection as well. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone is clearly effective in protecting from emesis both in the acute and delayed phases, with emesis avoided in one patient out of six treated. Future trials should determine whether the delayed-phase effect is independent of the acute-phase benefit.  (+info)

Substance P (Neurokinin-1) antagonist prevents postoperative vomiting after abdominal hysterectomy procedures. (56/720)

BACKGROUND: The safety and antiemetic efficacy of CP-122,721, a novel neurokinin-1 antagonist, was evaluated when administered alone or in combination with ondansetron. METHODS: Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design, CP-122,721 was initially compared with placebo and subsequently to ondansetron alone and in combination for prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting in 243 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. In the dose-ranging studies (n = 86), patients received either CP-122,721 100 mg (vs. placebo) or 200 mg (vs. placebo) orally 60-90 min before induction of anesthesia. In the interaction study (n = 157), patients received CP-122,721 200 mg or placebo 60-90 min before induction of anesthesia, and ondansetron 4 mg or saline 2 ml intravenously 15-30 min before the end of surgery. Patients assessed their level of nausea and pain on arrival in the postanesthesia care unit and at 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 12-, and 24-h intervals postoperatively. Emetic episodes, need for rescue antiemetic-antinausea medication, postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: In the initial dose-ranging study, only 10% of the patients experienced emesis within the first 8 h after surgery with CP-122,721 200 mg compared with 50% in the placebo group. CP-122,721 200 mg also decreased the need for rescue medication (25% vs. 48%). CP-122,721 100 mg was less effective than 200 mg in decreasing the incidence of repeated episodes of emesis. In the interaction study, 6% of the patients receiving CP-122,721 200 mg orally experienced emesis less than 2 h after surgery compared with 17% with ondansetron alone. With combined therapy, only 2% experienced emesis. In addition, the median times for 75% of patients to remain free from postoperative nausea and vomiting were 82, 75, and 362 min in the ondansetron, CP-122,721, and combination groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Oral CP-122,721 200 mg decreased emetic episodes compared with ondansetron (4 mg intravenously) during the first 24 h after gynecologic surgery; however, there was no difference in patient satisfaction.  (+info)