Improved control of chemotherapy-induced emesis by the addition of dexamethasone to metoclopramide in patients resistant to metoclopramide.

One hundred and two patients with advanced solid tumors receiving chemotherapy were treated with metoclopramide (MCP; 100 mg) to prevent emesis. Twenty-six of 102 patients who had more than five episodes of vomiting were considered MCP-resistant and were randomized to receive MCP (100 mg) plus placebo versus MCP plus dexamethasone (DM; 48 mg) iv in a double-blind, crossover trial. The median number of vomiting episodes was 18 after MCP plus placebo and five after MCP plus DM (P less than 0.001). The median duration of vomiting episodes was 40 hours after MCP plus placebo and 10 hours after MCP plus DM. Immediate toxicity of the antiemetics was not enhanced by the addition of DM to MCP.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes