DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more



Granisetron (Kytril) suppresses methotrexate-induced nausea and vomiting among patients with inflammatory arthritis and is superior to prochlorperazine (Stemetil).

Author(s): Devlin J, Wagstaff K, Arthur V, Emery P

Affiliation(s): Rheumatism and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University of Leeds, UK.

Publication date & source: 1999-03, Rheumatology (Oxford)., 38(3):280-2.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: Methotrexate (MTX) is an increasingly popular anti-rheumatic drug with its usefulness limited by toxicity, most commonly gastrointestinal (GI). The aim of the study was to study the effectiveness of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist granisetron (GR) in the therapy of MTX-induced nausea. METHODS: A single-blind 8 week pilot study with random allocation to either GR 1 mg or prochlorperazine (Stemetil; PCh) 10 mg was undertaken in 13 patients who were taking or had taken MTX for either rheumatoid arthritis (10) or psoriatic arthritis (3). RESULTS: One in six patients treated with PCh completed the 8 week study compared to 7/7 treated with GR. After switching of symptomatic patients, 11 completed the study on GR and median improvement was by two grades (P < 0.001) with a significantly better visual analogue scale score for patient satisfaction compared to PCh. CONCLUSION: Treatment with GR may be useful in establishing and maintaining some patients on MTX where GI toxicity would have precluded such therapy.

Page last updated: 2006-01-31

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017