Antiemetic Regimens in Outpatients Receiving Cisplatin and Non-Cisplatin Chemotherapy: A Randomized Trial Comparing High-Dose Metoclopramide Plus Methylprednisolone with and Without Lorazepam

Results of a randomized trial on antiemesis for cisplatin (CDDP) and non-CDDP chemotherapy-induced vomiting are reported. One hundred and sixty-three outpatients received 282 chemotherapy courses (141 with CDDP and 141 without CDDP). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either high-dose metoclopramide plus metylprednisolone (arm A) or the same drugs plus lorazepam (arm B). in both arms a high protection rate for vomiting was obtained, on the whole without statistically significant differences. Patients who received lorazepam had, however, significantly fewer nausea episodes during first day postchemo-therapy (p < 0.05). Arm B was also superior in anxiety control during the first day of chemotherapy (p