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Compassionate Use of a 5-HT3-Receptor Antagonist, Tropisetron, in Patients Refractory to Standard Antiemetic Treatment

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Summary

The efficacy of tropisetron in the prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy of varying emetogenic potential was evaluated in 545 patients with a variety of malignancies who had either proved refractory to antiemetic treatment during previous chemotherapy courses or who were considered to be at high risk of nausea and vomiting. Tropisetron 5 or 10mg was administered intravenously just before chemotherapy, with the possibility of additional oral or intravenous doses on the day before chemotherapy and on 1 or more subsequent days.

On day 1 of the first course of chemotherapy, a complete response (no nausea and no vomiting) was achieved in 62% of patients and a partial response (1 to 4 vomits and/or episodes of nausea) in 29%. Among the 325 patients who received a second course of chemotherapy, more than 80% of those with a complete response on day 1 of course 1 also had a complete response on day 1 of course 2; 37% and 26%, respectively, of patients with a partial response or failure (1 or more vomits and/or episodes of nausea) on day 1 of course 1 then had a complete response on day 1 of course 2.

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† For a list of other investigators see p. 31

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Bleiberg, H., Van Belle, S., Paridaens, R. et al. Compassionate Use of a 5-HT3-Receptor Antagonist, Tropisetron, in Patients Refractory to Standard Antiemetic Treatment. Drugs 43 (Suppl 3), 27–32 (1992). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199200433-00007

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199200433-00007

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