[Effect of combined use of adrenocortical hormones and domperidone as anti-emetics during cisplatin therapy].

Eighteen patients received repeated administrations of cisplatin in relatively large amounts (55-75-100 mg/m2) given systemically by drop infusion. As antiemetic treatments, the following were scheduled: on the day before; prednisolone 30mg (3 X p.o.), immediately before; methylprednisolone 500mg (i.v.), and 3 hours after administration of cisplatin ; methylprednisolone 500mg (i.v.) and domperidone 60 mg (suppo.). Domperidone was given twice a day for one week. Nausea, vomiting and anorexia were studied objectively for two weeks. At a dose of 75 mg/m2 of cisplatin, the occurrence and the duration of nausea and vomiting were effectively reduced by the regimen; nausea was observed in 67% of all cases (average duration: 3.3 days) and vomiting was experienced in 40% (1.2 days). Anorexia was observed in 67% of cases and lasted longer (5.2 days). The severity and duration of these side effects of nausea, vomiting and anorexia seemed to appear in a manner related to the dose of cisplatin given, but even at a dose of 100 mg/m2, the regimen described above reduced the patients' discomfort to acceptable levels. No remarkable side effect of this anti-emetic regimen was evident.