Granisetron in the control of nausea and vomiting associated with bone marrow transplantation: a review of its efficacy and tolerability.
Cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) experience severe nausea and vomiting associated with high-dose chemotherapy agents; these emetic symptoms are compounded by total body irradiation used in many conditioning regimens. This paper reviews clinical experience with the 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist granisetron, both as a single agent and in combination with other anti-emetics, in patients undergoing BMT and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Clinical studies demonstrate the efficacy (47-61% with no vomiting and no worse than mild nausea) and tolerability of granisetron. Its long half-life and duration of action may be responsible for its effective 24 h control of nausea and vomiting in BMT patients.
Prentice
H G
HG
Royal Free and University College Medical School, and Department of Haematology, The London Clinic, 20 Devonshire Place, W1G 6BW, London, UK. g.prentice@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000932:Antiemetics; D017829:Granisetron