Granisetron Prevents Postoperative Nausea at Low 0.1 mg Dose

NEW YORK—New data suggests that granisetron (Kytril) can effectively prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting at doses as low as 0.1 mg. Robert D’Angelo, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University, Baptist Medical Center, presented the study results at the 56th Annual Post Graduate Assembly in Anesthesiology.

Granisetron is a selective, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist class of antiemetic. It is approved for intravenous use to prevent and treat postoperative nausea and vomiting at a dosage of 1 mg, and is also approved for the prevention of chemotherapy- and radiation-induced nausea and vomiting.

In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging pilot study, 121 patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy requiring general anesthesia received a single granisetron dose intravenously. The agent proved more effective than placebo at doses of 0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, and 0.3 mg, and was similar to the efficacy of other 5-HT3-receptor antagonists.

No Vomiting in More Than 90%

The percentages of patients with no vomiting up to 6 hours after drug administration were 94%, 96%, 91%, and 77% for granisetron 0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, 0.3 mg, and placebo, respectively. The percentages of patients with total control (no vomiting, no moderate-to-severe nausea, and no use of rescue medication over 0 to 6 hours) were 65%, 56%, 67%, and 33%, respectively.