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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 3/2012

01-03-2012 | Original Article

Gabapentin for the prevention of chemotherapy- induced nausea and vomiting: a pilot study

Authors: Felipe Melo Cruz, Daniel de Iracema Gomes Cubero, Patrícia Taranto, Tatiana Lerner, Andrea Thaumaturgo Lera, Michele da Costa Miranda, Mariana da Cunha Vieira, Ângelo Bezerra de Souza Fêde, Fernanda Schindler, Mércia Maleckas Carrasco, Samuel Oliveira de Afonseca, Hélio Pinczowski, Auro del Giglio

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 3/2012

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Abstract

Introduction

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a distressing side effect that affects many patients undergoing emetogenic chemotherapy, despite the use of antiemetic medications. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin for the prevention of CINV during the first cycle of treatment in patients receiving moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy.

Methods

Eighty chemotherapy-naive patients, scheduled to receive moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy, were enrolled in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. All patients received intravenous ondansetron 8 mg, dexamethasone 10 mg and ranitidine 50 mg before chemotherapy on day 1 and oral dexamethasone 4 mg twice a day on days 2 and 3. Patients were randomly assigned to take gabapentin 300 mg or placebo on the following schedule: 5 and 4 days before chemotherapy once daily, 3 and 2 days before chemotherapy twice daily, 1 day before to 5 days after chemotherapy thrice daily. The primary endpoint was complete overall protection from both vomiting and nausea over the course of the entire study (day 1 through day 5), and complete protection during the delayed period (24–120 h after chemotherapy).

Results

The proportion of patients achieving complete response improved from 40% to 62.5%, (p = 0.04) when comparing the control group and the gabapentin group, respectively. In the subset of patients who achieved complete control in the acute phase, the percentage of patients who achieved delayed complete control was higher in the gabapentin group (89.3 × 60.7%, p = 0.01). Adverse events did not significantly differ between study arms.

Conclusions

Gabapentin is a low-cost strategy to improve complete control of CINV, specially delayed CINV control.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Gabapentin for the prevention of chemotherapy- induced nausea and vomiting: a pilot study
Authors
Felipe Melo Cruz
Daniel de Iracema Gomes Cubero
Patrícia Taranto
Tatiana Lerner
Andrea Thaumaturgo Lera
Michele da Costa Miranda
Mariana da Cunha Vieira
Ângelo Bezerra de Souza Fêde
Fernanda Schindler
Mércia Maleckas Carrasco
Samuel Oliveira de Afonseca
Hélio Pinczowski
Auro del Giglio
Publication date
01-03-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1138-4

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