In 2 randomized, double-blind, monotherapy trials, a single 24-mg ondansetron tablet, USP was superior to a relevant historical placebo control in the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, including cisplatin ≥ 50 mg/m
. Steroid administration was excluded from these clinical trials. More than 90% of patients receiving a cisplatin dose ≥ 50 mg/m
in the historical placebo comparator experienced vomiting in the absence of antiemetic therapy.
The first trial compared oral doses of ondansetron 24 mg once a day, 8 mg twice a day, and 32 mg once a day in 357 adult cancer patients receiving chemotherapy regimens containing cisplatin ≥ 50 mg/m2. A total of 66% of patients in the ondansetron 24-mg once-a-day group, 55% in the ondansetron 8-mg twice-a-day group, and 55% in the ondansetron 32-mg once-a-day group completed the 24-hour study period with 0 emetic episodes and no rescue antiemetic medications, the primary endpoint of efficacy. Each of the 3 treatment groups was shown to be statistically significantly superior to a historical placebo control.
In the same trial, 56% of patients receiving oral ondansetron 24 mg once a day experienced no nausea during the 24-hour study period, compared with 36% of patients in the oral ondansetron 8-mg twice-a-day group (P = 0.001) and 50% in the oral ondansetron 32-mg once-a-day group.
In a second trial, efficacy of the oral ondansetron 24-mg once-a-day regimen in the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, including cisplatin ≥ 50 mg/m
, was confirmed.
In 1 double-blind US study in 67 patients, ondansetron tablets, USP 8 mg administered twice a day were significantly more effective than placebo in preventing vomiting induced by cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy containing doxorubicin. Treatment response is based on the total number of emetic episodes over the 3-day study period. The results of this study are summarized in Table 3:
| a The first dose was administered 30 minutes before the start of emetogenic chemotherapy, with a subsequent dose 8 hours after the first dose. An 8-mg ondansetron tablet, USP was administered twice a day for 2 days after completion of chemotherapy.b Median undefined since at least 50% of the patients were withdrawn or had more than 2 emetic episodes.c Median undefined since at least 50% of patients did not have any emetic episodes. |
| Ondansetron 8-mgb.i.d.Ondansetron tablets, USPa | Placebo | P Value |
Number of patients | 33 | 34 | |
Treatment response0 Emetic episodes1-2 Emetic episodesMore than 2 emetic episodes/withdrawn | 20 (61%)6 (18%)7 (21%) | 2 (6%)8 (24%)24 (71%) | < 0.001< 0.001 |
Median number ofemetic episodes | 0.0 | Undefined b | |
Median time to firstemetic episode (h) | Undefined c | 6.5 | |
In 1 double-blind US study in 336 patients, ondansetron tablets, USP 8 mg administered twice a day were as effective as ondansetron tablets, USP 8 mg administered 3 times a day in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy containing either methotrexate or doxorubicin. Treatment response is based on the total number of emetic episodes over the 3-day study period. The results of this study are summarized in Table 4:
| a The first dose was administered 30 minutes before the start of emetogenic chemotherapy, with a subsequent dose 8 hours after the first dose. An 8-mg ondansetron tablet, USP was administered twice a day for 2 days after completion of chemotherapy.b The first dose was administered 30 minutes before the start of emetogenic chemotherapy, with subsequent doses 4 and 8 hours after the first dose. An 8-mg ondansetron tablet, USP was administered 3 times a day for 2 days after completion of chemotherapy.c Median undefined since at least 50% of patients did not have any emetic episodes.d Visual analog scale assessment: 0 = no nausea, 100 = nausea as bad as it can be. |
| Ondansetron |
| 8-mg b.i.d. Ondansetron tablets, USP a | 8-mg t.i.d.Ondansetron tablets, USP b |
Number of patients | 165 | 171 |
Treatment response0 Emetic episodes1-2 Emetic episodesMore than 2 emetic episodes/withdrawn | 101 (61%)16 (10%)48 (29%) | 99 (58%)17 (10%)55 (32%) |
Median number of emetic episodes | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Median time to first emetic episode (h) | Undefined c | Undefined c |
Median nausea scores (0-100) d | 6 | 6 |
Re-treatment
In uncontrolled trials, 148 patients receiving cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy were re-treated with ondansetron tablets, USP 8 mg 3 times daily during subsequent chemotherapy for a total of 396 re-treatment courses. No emetic episodes occurred in 314 (79%) of the re-treatment courses, and only 1 to 2 emetic episodes occurred in 43 (11%) of the re-treatment courses.
Three open-label, uncontrolled, foreign trials have been performed with 182 pediatric patients 4 to 18 years old with cancer who were given a variety of cisplatin or noncisplatin regimens. In these foreign trials, the initial dose of ondansetron hydrochloride injection ranged from 0.04 to 0.87 mg/kg for a total dose of 2.16 to 12 mg. This was followed by the administration of ondansetron tablets, USP ranging from 4 to 24 mg daily for 3 days. In these studies, 58% of the 170 evaluable patients had a complete response (no emetic episodes) on day 1. Two studies showed the response rates for patients less than 12 years of age who received ondansetron tablets, USP 4 mg 3 times a day to be similar to those in patients 12 to 18 years of age who received ondansetron tablets, USP 8 mg 3 times daily. Thus, prevention of emesis in these pediatric patients was essentially the same as for patients older than 18 years of age. Overall, ondansetron tablets, USP were well tolerated in these pediatric patients.
The adverse events in Table 5 have been reported in ≥ 5% of adult patients receiving a single 24-mg ondansetron tablet, USP in 2 trials. These patients were receiving concurrent highly emetogenic cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens (cisplatin dose ≥ 50 mg/m
).
Event | Ondansetron 24 mg q.d.n = 300 | Ondansetron 8 mg b.i.d.n = 124 | Ondansetron32 mg q.d.n = 117 |
Headache | 33 (11%) | 16 (13%) | 17 (15%) |
Diarrhea | 13 (4%) | 9 (7%) | 3 (3%) |
The adverse events in Table 6 have been reported in ≥ 5% of adults receiving either 8 mg of ondansetron tablets, USP 2 or 3 times a day for 3 days or placebo in 4 trials. These patients were receiving concurrent moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, primarily cyclophosphamide-based regimens.
Event | Ondansetron 8 mg b.i.d.n = 242 | Ondansetron 8 mg t.i.d.n = 415 | Placebon = 262 |
Headache | 58 (24%) | 113 (27%) | 34 (13%) |
Malaise/fatigue | 32 (13%) | 37 (9%) | 6 (2%) |
Constipation | 22 (9%) | 26 (6%) | 1 (<1%) |
Diarrhea | 15 (6%) | 16 (4%) | 10 (4%) |
Dizziness | 13 (5%) | 18 (4%) | 12 (5%) |
There have been rare reports consistent with, but not diagnostic of, extrapyramidal reactions in patients receiving ondansetron.
In 723 patients receiving cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy in US clinical trials, AST and/or ALT values have been reported to exceed twice the upper limit of normal in approximately 1% to 2% of patients receiving ondansetron tablets, USP. The increases were transient and did not appear to be related to dose or duration of therapy. On repeat exposure, similar transient elevations in transaminase values occurred in some courses, but symptomatic hepatic disease did not occur. The role of cancer chemotherapy in these biochemical changes cannot be clearly determined.
There have been reports of liver failure and death in patients with cancer receiving concurrent medications including potentially hepatotoxic cytotoxic chemotherapy and antibiotics. The etiology of the liver failure is unclear.
Rash has occurred in approximately 1% of patients receiving ondansetron.
Rare cases of anaphylaxis, bronchospasm, tachycardia, angina (chest pain), hypokalemia, electrocardiographic alterations, vascular occlusive events, and grand mal seizures have been reported. Except for bronchospasm and anaphylaxis, the relationship to ondansetron tablets, USP were unclear.