Tablets move in on IV therapy for cancer patients
October 1, 1997 2 minutes read
Tablets move in on IV therapy for cancer patients
A pair of recent trials comparing the effectiveness of oral and intravenous medications that prevent nausea and vomiting found that two 1 mg Kytril tablets (granisetron hydrochloride from SmithKline Beecham) are as effective as 32 mg of ondansetron administered intravenously for cancer patients undergoing moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy.
Kytril is the only antiemetic tablet for use with high-dose cisplatin, a highly emetogenic chemotherapy with the highest potential of causing nausea and vomiting.
Tablets are much more easily administered than IV therapy, and, due to less administration time for nurses, can offer significant cost savings.
In the first study, conducted at the Oschner Cancer Institute in New Orleans, 1,054 patients received either two 1 mg Kytril tablets or 32 mg of intravenous ondansetron prior to an initial course of cisplatin. Fifty-five percent of the patients who received Kytril tablets had no nausea or vomiting and required no additional medication, compared with 58% of patients who received intravenous odansetron.
In the second study, conducted at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, 1,085 patients received either two 1 mg Kytril tablets or 32 mg of intravenous ondansetron prior to an initial course of cyclophosphamide or carboplatin. At 24 and 48 hours, respectively, 59% and 47% of the patients who received Kytril tablets had no nausea or vomiting and required no additional medication. For patients receiving intravenous ondansetron, the percentages were 58% and 44%, respectively.
• 6th Annual Nutrition Support Symposium. Sept. 27, 1997, Doubletree Hotel, San Diego. For more information, call (619) 493-5265 or (619) 522-3784.
• Managed Care Conference: Creating the Coordinated Approach. Oct. 6, 1997, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans. For more information, call (508) 474-0055.
• Medtrade 97. Oct. 7-10, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans. For more information, call (770) 641-8181.
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