title: On-demand antiemetic treatment with the serotonine antagonist tropisetron in cisplatin-treated cancer patients.
abstract: Fourteen cancer patients treated with cisplatin received repeated infusions of tropisetron on-demand in conjunction with emesis. In subsequent chemotherapy courses, prophylactic tropisetron was given in a dose identical to the cumulated dose in study course 1. Tropisetron in study course 1 abolished emesis after 7.5 min (5 mg). Duration of effect was more than 7 h in 50% of the patients. No relationship between dose and duration of effect was seen. After study course 2, eight of 10 patients preferred prophylactic tropisetron. Two patients with hypertension had a severe increase in blood pressure probably related to tropisetron. It is concluded that tropisetron has an instant and lasting effect on nausea and vomiting when given on-demand. The majority of patients, however, prefer prophylactic treatment. Hypertension may be a side effect from tropisetron and caution should be displayed in hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology ONA, Finsen Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Havsteen
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalmark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077526:Tropisetron; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D007211:Indoles; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D000077526:Tropisetron; D002945:Cisplatin