title: Ondansetron usage in HIV positive patients: a pilot study on the control of nausea and vomiting in patients on high dose co-trimoxazole for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
abstract: This was an open, single centre study, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ondansetron in the treatment of co-trimoxazole associated nausea and vomiting in AIDS patients. Sixteen patients presenting with their first episode of HIV-associated Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) on high dose co-trimoxazole were given ondansetron 8 mg orally, every 8 h. Measurements were made from data recorded by each patient on diary cards. In this study 11 out of 16 (69%) patients on ondansetron experienced good control of emesis (2 or less emetic episodes) on their 'worst day' of therapy and 8 out of 16 (50%) of patients demonstrated good control of emesis throughout their treatment with co-trimoxazole. Good control of nausea (mild or none) was achieved in 7 out of 16 (47%) patients. A total of 7 patients were able to complete the full course of co-trimoxazole whilst on ondansetron. One serious adverse event (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) was reported and felt to be unrelated to ondansetron. If conventional anti-emetics fail to achieve control of symptoms or have unacceptable side effects, ondansetron may represent a possible alternative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gompels
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McWilliams
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Hare
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pinching
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Main
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D017294:Ondansetron; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination