title: Betamethasone-dixyrazine versus metoclopramide as antiemetic treatment in cancer chemotherapy.
abstract: In a prospective randomized and double-blind cross-over study betamethasone-dixyrazine was compared with metoclopramide as antiemetic treatment in cisplatin and doxorubicin chemotherapy. Sixty-two consecutive patients without prior experience of chemotherapy entered the study and were followed during 1-4 courses of treatment. Effect parameters were recorded on questionnaires using the visual analog scale for quantification. The median number of courses per patient was 3.0 (range 1-4). Full protection against nausea and vomiting was achieved in 74% with betamethasone-dixyrazine and in 45% with metoclopramide regardless of the chemotherapy regimen employed. With doxorubicin regimens betamethasone-dixyrazine gave full protection in 94% and metoclopramide in 45%. In cisplatin regimens full emetic protection was achieved in 40% with betamethasone-dixyrazine and in 29% with metoclopramide. Adverse reactions were a significant problem with metoclopramide: restlessness 48%, akathisia 26%, parkinsonism 13%, and acute dystonia 3%. One case (3.2%) of parkinsonism was noted as the only extrapyramidal reaction in the dixyrazine group. Various degrees of sedation were noted in 84% during dixyrazine treatment compared with 71% during metoclopramide therapy. Diarrhea was encountered in 48% after high-dose metoclopramide compared with 6% after antiemetic treatment with betamethasone-dixyrazine. Betamethasone-dixyrazine appears to be a promising antiemetic combination with regard to both efficacy and side effects, but further refinement of the regimen is probably possible through dose adjustments and alternative routes of administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Regionsjukhuset, Orebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sorbe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hallén
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010640:Phenothiazines; C012950:dixyrazine; D001623:Betamethasone; D008787:Metoclopramide