Efficacy of two oral dose regimens of granisetron.
BACKGROUND
Most chemotherapic treatments are carried out on an outpatient basis. In such patients the prevention and control of emesis is important. Granisetron is a specific and extremely potent 5-HT3 antagonist available as an oral formulation. We have carried out an open randomized crossover study in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.


METHODS
30 patients were randomized to receive one of the two oral dose regimens of GRAN. Treatment A = 1 mg of GRAN initially and 12 hours after the first; treatment B = a single 2 mg dose of GRAN. RESULTS. An overall good response for vomiting was reached in 70% and 86.7% respectively of patients receiving treatments A and B (p = 0.0625). Good response to nausea was reached in 73.3% of the patients with treatment A and in 76.7% with treatment B (p = 1). 68.3% of patients did not record chemoinduced emesis.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that oral GRAN alone is an active and safe drug for the prevention of acute chemoinduced emesis.
Maisano
R
R
Satellite Unit, IST, Genova c/o Institute of Oncology, University of Messina, Italy.
Adamo
V
V
Settineri
N
N
Pergolizzi
S
S
Scimone
A
A
Altavilla
G
G
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017829:Granisetron; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists