[Does the addition of an anxiolytic drug improve the anti-emetic effectiveness of the steroid and granisetron combination in the prophylaxis of cisplatin-induced vomiting?]

Abstract

Authors evaluated two forms of antiemetic therapy in 129 courses of 51 gynecological cancer patients treated with cisplatin chemotherapy of moderately or highly emetic dose (50-100 mg/m2) in a prospective, non randomized study. The patients received granisetron (3 mg, intravenously) and methylprednisolone (100 mg, orally) in the group A. An additional anxiolytic drug (alprazolam or meprobamate or diazepam) or droperidol with known sedative characteristics (1 ml, intravenously) was given in the combination of the group B. 80.3% and 73.5% complete responses were achieved in groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.4084). No differences were found in the side effects of the two antiemetic combinations. Authors conclude the addition of an anxiolytic drug does not improve the antiemetic effectivity of the granisetron-methylprednisolone combination in the first 24 hours of cisplatin chemotherapy.