The influence of cyclizine and perphenazine on the emetic effect of meptazinol.

The effectiveness of 50 mg cyclizine and 2.5 mg perphenazine against the emetic sequelae of 100 mg meptazinol were studied in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Three groups of 40 women received the opioid, together with an anti-emetic by i.m. injection, as premedication prior to minor gynaecological surgery. Beneficial or noxious effects were noted at standard time intervals and anaesthesia standardized as incremental methohexitone with nitrous oxide/oxygen. In the placebo group, 33 out of 40 subjects experienced either nausea or vomiting at some time after the opioid. Cyclizine, 50 mg, provided significant reduction of emetic tendency in both pre-operative and post-operative phases of the study with 22 out of 40 subjects experiencing nausea or vomiting overall. Perphenazine, 2.5 mg, showed no useful anti-emetic effect. Both anti-emetics increased the soporific effect of premedication at the 90-min interval. Subjects receiving perphenazine experienced significantly more dizziness than those of other groups.