Comparison of granisetron alone and granisetron plus hydroxyzine hydrochloride for the prophylactic treatment of emesis induced by cisplatin-containing chemotherapy]

In this study, the utility and safety of granisetron alone (Group G) and granisetron plus hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Group G/H) for nausea and vomiting were evaluated in patients with head and neck cancer treated by cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the severity of nausea or frequency of vomiting, although all patients in the G/H group showed complete response (no nausea or vomiting) from the fifth day after cisplatin administration. The clinical utility rate was higher in Group G/H than in Group G. The only side effect observed was headache in one patient from Group G. No drug-related abnormality in laboratory tests was observed. These results demonstrate that the antiemetic efficacy of granisetron can be augmented by the addition of hydroxyzine hydrochloride, providing superior control of emesis induced by cisplatin-containing chemotherapy.