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Diphenhydramine, Lorazepam, and Dexamethasone in Treating Nausea and Vomiting Caused By Chemotherapy

Phase 2
Terminated
Conditions
Nausea
Vomiting
Unspecified Childhood Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00429702
Lead Sponsor
University of South Florida
Brief Summary

RATIONALE: Diphenhydramine, lorazepam, and dexamethasone may help lessen or prevent nausea and vomiting in patients treated with chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether diphenhydramine, lorazepam, and dexamethasone are more effective than standard therapy in treating nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying diphenhydramine, lorazepam, and dexamethasone to see how well they work compared with standard therapy in treating nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy in young patients with newly diagnosed cancer.

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

* Compare the degree of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed cancer treated with diphenhydramine hydrochloride, lorazepam, and dexamethasone vs standard antiemetic therapy during the first course of emetogenic chemotherapy.

Secondary

* Compare the degree of CINV during the first 3 days after completion of the first course of emetogenic chemotherapy in patients treated with these antiemetic regimens.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, prospective, double-blind, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to the emetogenic potential of their chemotherapy regimen (high vs moderate). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

* Arm I: Patients receive ondansetron hydrochloride IV twice daily and saline IV twice daily beginning 30-60 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy. Patients also receive diphenhydramine hydrochloride, lorazepam, and dexamethasone by continuous infusion pump.

* Arm II: Patients receive ondansetron hydrochloride IV twice daily and dexamethasone IV twice daily beginning 30-60 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy. Patients also receive saline by continuous infusion pump.

In both arms, treatment continues during the first course of chemotherapy. Patients may also receive rescue antiemetic medication to control breakthrough nausea or emesis.

Patients and their parents complete the Adapted Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching- Measured by Child/Parent questionnaire once before beginning chemotherapy, twice daily during chemotherapy, and for 3 days after completion of chemotherapy.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 180 patients will be accrued for this study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
7
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Benadryl® Ativan® Decadron® (BAD) PumpAtivan®Patients receive ondansetron hydrochloride IV twice daily and saline IV twice daily beginning 30-60 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy. Patients also receive diphenhydramine hydrochloride, lorazepam, and dexamethasone by continuous infusion pump.
Benadryl® Ativan® Decadron® (BAD) Pumpondansetron hydrochloridePatients receive ondansetron hydrochloride IV twice daily and saline IV twice daily beginning 30-60 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy. Patients also receive diphenhydramine hydrochloride, lorazepam, and dexamethasone by continuous infusion pump.
Control Arm SalineDecadron®Patients receive ondansetron hydrochloride IV twice daily and dexamethasone IV twice daily beginning 30-60 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy. Patients also receive saline by continuous infusion pump.
Control Arm Salineondansetron hydrochloridePatients receive ondansetron hydrochloride IV twice daily and dexamethasone IV twice daily beginning 30-60 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy. Patients also receive saline by continuous infusion pump.
Benadryl® Ativan® Decadron® (BAD) PumpDecadron®Patients receive ondansetron hydrochloride IV twice daily and saline IV twice daily beginning 30-60 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy. Patients also receive diphenhydramine hydrochloride, lorazepam, and dexamethasone by continuous infusion pump.
Benadryl® Ativan® Decadron® (BAD) PumpBenadryl®Patients receive ondansetron hydrochloride IV twice daily and saline IV twice daily beginning 30-60 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy. Patients also receive diphenhydramine hydrochloride, lorazepam, and dexamethasone by continuous infusion pump.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of Patients Requiring Rescue Medication for Breakthrough Nausea or Emesis During Inpatient Chemotherapyduring in-patient cycle of chemotherapy, up to 4 days

Rescue medication is any medication administered by the treating team to control breakthrough nausea or emesis. Rescue medications were used to treat any patient who has enough symptoms requiring additional therapy. All patients were instructed to first use the push button on the pump. On-demand administration of study agent via the patient-controlled infusion pump will not be considered rescue therapy - it is part of the antiemetic treatment regimen. If on-demand administration is not successful in controlling the patient's symptoms, then as-needed rescue medications are to be administered. The treating staff will administer additional (as needed) doses of intravenous antiemetics, depending on the institutional preference.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of Patients Requiring Rescue Medication for Breakthrough Nausea or Emesis After Completion of the First Course of Emetogenic Chemotherapy3 days of following completion of first chemotherapy cycle

CINV will be determined based on the number of rescue medications used during the 3 days following completion of chemotherapy cycle. Rescue medication is any medication administered by the treating team to control breakthrough nausea or emesis. Rescue medications were used to treat any patient who has enough symptoms requiring additional therapy. All patients were instructed to first use the push button on the pump. On-demand administration of study agent via the patient-controlled infusion pump will not be considered rescue therapy - it is part of the antiemetic treatment regimen. If on-demand administration is not successful in controlling the patient's symptoms, then as-needed rescue medications are to be administered. The treating staff will administer additional (as needed) doses of intravenous antiemetics, depending on the institutional preference.

Trial Locations

Locations (7)

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital

🇺🇸

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

🇺🇸

Orlando, Florida, United States

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida

🇺🇸

Fort Myers, Florida, United States

University of Mississippi Cancer Clinic

🇺🇸

Jackson, Mississippi, United States

St. Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa

🇺🇸

Tampa, Florida, United States

San Jorge Children's Hospital

🇵🇷

Santurce, Puerto Rico

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