Granisetron (Kytril): a survey of use in clinical practice in Switzerland

Abstract

Data on the use of intravenous granisetron (Kytril) were collected during a surveillance exercise amongst Swiss oncologists. The data were analysed to ascertain how granisetron was used, and to document the incidence of adverse experiences in a clinical setting. Forty-nine oncologists at 40 Swiss centres were surveyed for their use of granisetron for the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. All were advised to follow the Swiss prescribing instructions for granisetron. They were invited to return data on patient demography, chemotherapy duration, granisetron dosing and adverse experiences. From 285 patients it was deduced that the mean daily dose of granisetron was 1.3 ampoules (3.9 mg) and the median daily dose was 1 ampoule (3 mg). The average number of doses of granisetron per patient per session was 3.8. There were 44 reports of adverse experiences by 34 patients, the most common report being headache. The survey confirmed that the large majority of patients undergoing chemotherapy required only a single dose of granisetron per day, and that the adverse experience profile was good.