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. 2015 Jun;22(3):199-210.
doi: 10.3747/co.22.2395.

Ondansetron rapidly dissolving film for the prophylactic treatment of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting-a pilot study

E Wong  1 , N Pulenzas  1 , G Bedard  1 , C DeAngelis  1 , L Zhang  1 , M Tsao  1 , C Danjoux  1 , N Thavarajah  1 , B Lechner  1 , R McDonald  1 , P M Cheon  1 , E Chow  1
Affiliations

Ondansetron rapidly dissolving film for the prophylactic treatment of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting-a pilot study

E Wong et al. Curr Oncol. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of an ondansetron rapidly dissolving film (rdf) in the prophylaxis of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (rinv). Rapidly dissolving film formulations facilitate drug delivery in circumstances in which swallowing the medication might be difficult for the patient.

Methods: Patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy at risk for rinv were prescribed ondansetron rdf 8 mg twice daily while on treatment and were asked to complete a nausea and vomiting-specific daily diary, the Functional Living Index-Emesis (flie), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C15 Palliative (qlq-C15-pal). Patients were categorized as receiving primary or secondary prophylaxis based on whether they had already experienced emetic episodes. "Overall control" was defined as a maximum increase of 2 episodes of nausea or vomiting from baseline. "Acute phase" was defined as the days during radiation until the first day after radiation; "delayed phase" was defined as days 2-10 after radiation.

Results: The study accrued 30 patients. Rates of overall control for nausea and for vomiting during the acute phase in the primary prophylaxis group were 88% and 93% respectively; during the delayed phase, they were 73% and 75%. Rates of overall control for nausea and for vomiting during the acute phase in the secondary prophylaxis group were both 100%; during the delayed phase, they were 50%. The number of nausea and vomiting episodes was found to be significantly correlated with the flie and qlq-C15-pal questionnaires.

Conclusions: Ondansetron rdf is effective for the prophylaxis of rinv.

Keywords: Radiation-induced nausea and vomiting; ondansetron; prophylaxis; rapidly dissolving film.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Scatterplots with fitted generalized regression lines for total nausea or vomiting episodes (A) during the first 5 days and (B) during the last 5 days, by domain on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire–C15 Palliative (C15PAL).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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