[Examination of anti-emetic effect, safety and usefulness of single oral dose of ondansetron tablet in nausea and emesis induced by anti-cancer drugs--dose-finding study of ondansetron tablet in patients receiving non-platinum anti-cancer drugs].

Inhibitory effects on acute nausea and emesis, safety and usefulness of a single oral dose of Ondansetron tablet were evaluated in 3 different dose levels for comparison by telephone registration system, in patients receiving non-platinum anti-cancer drugs. A single dose of ondansetron at 4 mg, 8 mg or 12 mg was given orally at 2 hrs before the initial administration of anti-cancer drugs. The patients were observed for 24 hours after administration of anti-cancer drugs, for occurrence of nausea and emesis. Efficacy rates of inhibitory effects on nausea and emesis were 83.3% (10/12 cases) in 4 mg dose group, 78.6% (11/14 cases) in 8 mg dose group and 84.6% (11/13 cases) in 12 mg dose group, without statistically significant difference. Side effects were observed in 3 cases (headache, cold feeling and trembling in limbs, sleepiness) in 12 mg dose group, but these symptoms were not severe and disappeared after several hours or several days. No abnormality in clinical laboratory findings attributable to Ondansetron was observed. From the above, it was considered that Ondansetron was a clinically useful anti-emetic for nausea and emesis induced by non-platinum anti-cancer drugs and that 4 mg once daily was the optimal dose.