DOUBLE-BLIND COMPARISON OF THE ANTI-EMETIC EFFECTS OF NABILONE AND PROCHLORPERAZINE ON CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED EMESIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 64  (2-3) , 219-224
Abstract
The antiemetic effect of oral nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, given at a dose of 2 mg every 12 h was compared to oral slow-release capsules of prochlorperazine given at a dose of 10 mg every 12 h by a double-blind crossover method in 37 patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Patients received 1 of the following as the primary emetic stimulus: high-dose cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (DDP), low-dose DDP, mechlorethamine, streptozotocin, actinomycin D, or DTIC [dacarbazine]. Although results varied according to strength of emetic stimulus received, both nabilone and prochlorperazine appeared to produce antiemetic effects. Eighteen of the 37 patients achieved a complete or partial elimination of symptoms: 7 with nabilone alone, 3 with prochlorperazine alone and 8 with each drug. Nabilone appeared to be the more effective antiemetic for patients who received chemotherapy agents other than high-dose DDP; it was equivalent to prochlorperazine for those who did receive high-dose DDP. Side effects from prochlorperazine were limited to mild drowsiness occurring among 35% of the patients. The side effects from nabilone were drowsiness and dizziness which occurred frequently and were dose-limiting in 25% of patients.

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