title: Gabapentin for the prevention of chemotherapy- induced nausea and vomiting: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a distressing side effect that affects many patients undergoing emetogenic chemotherapy, despite the use of antiemetic medications. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin for the prevention of CINV during the first cycle of treatment in patients receiving moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty chemotherapy-naive patients, scheduled to receive moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy, were enrolled in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. All patients received intravenous ondansetron 8 mg, dexamethasone 10 mg and ranitidine 50 mg before chemotherapy on day 1 and oral dexamethasone 4 mg twice a day on days 2 and 3. Patients were randomly assigned to take gabapentin 300 mg or placebo on the following schedule: 5 and 4 days before chemotherapy once daily, 3 and 2 days before chemotherapy twice daily, 1 day before to 5 days after chemotherapy thrice daily. The primary endpoint was complete overall protection from both vomiting and nausea over the course of the entire study (day 1 through day 5), and complete protection during the delayed period (24-120 h after chemotherapy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of patients achieving complete response improved from 40% to 62.5%, (p = 0.04) when comparing the control group and the gabapentin group, respectively. In the subset of patients who achieved complete control in the acute phase, the percentage of patients who achieved delayed complete control was higher in the gabapentin group (89.3 × 60.7%, p = 0.01). Adverse events did not significantly differ between study arms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gabapentin is a low-cost strategy to improve complete control of CINV, specially delayed CINV control.
authors.affiliation: felipemcruz@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Felipe Melo
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Iracema Gomes Cubero
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taranto
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: Andrea Thaumaturgo
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Lera
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: da Costa Miranda
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: da Cunha Vieira
authors.forename: Angelo Bezerra
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: de Souza Fêde
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Mércia Maleckas
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: Samuel Oliveira
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: de Afonseca
authors.forename: Hélio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pinczowski
authors.forename: Auro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: del Giglio
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000932:Antiemetics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D017294:Ondansetron; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011899:Ranitidine