title: Metoclopramide versus ondansetron for the treatment of vomiting in children with acute gastroenteritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and safety of ondansetron versus less expensive metoclopramide in the treatment of children with persistent vomiting with acute gastroenteritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind trial including consecutive consented patients ages 1 to 14 years was conducted in an urban infirmary setting from June 2008 through December 2008. Children were randomized to receive a single dose of intravenous ondansetron or metoclopramide. The primary efficacy outcome was the proportion of patients with cessation of vomiting shortly after completion of the study medication infusion in each group. Observed adverse effects and diarrhea frequency during admission and in follow-up were recorded to assess safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred sixty-seven previously healthy children (median age 3 years) diagnosed as having acute gastroenteritis with persistent vomiting completed treatment and observation. Cessation of vomiting was achieved in 68/84 patients (81%) of the ondansetron and 60/83 (72%) of the metoclopramide groups, P = 0.14. Mean time to complete cessation of vomiting was 39 minutes (SD 111) for ondansetron, and 61 minutes (SD 110) for metoclopramide, P = 0.2. The mean length of infirmary stay was 550 minutes (SD 427) for ondansetron and 575 minutes (SD 449) for metoclopramide, P = 0.71. Revisit rate, readmissions rate, and frequency of diarrhea after discharge were similar in the 2 treatment groups. No adverse reaction or other safety concerns were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the sample size tested, intravenous metoclopramide therapy did not differ from ondansetron in the treatment of persistent vomiting for children with gastroenteritis admitted for intravenous fluid hydration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. dkmaa@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Ansari
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alomary
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdulateef
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alshawagfa
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D013997:Time Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017294:Ondansetron; D008787:Metoclopramide