Dystonia is a syndrome characterized by sustained muscle contractions frequently causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. Dystonic reactions may be a complication of many drugs such as antipsychotics, anti-emetics and antidepressants. This report presents a 4-year-old healthy boy who was admitted to an emergency department with acute dystonia following the ingestion of me...

The use of dry powder inhalers (DPIs) is expanding beyond asthma and chronic obstructive disease (COPD) into new therapeutic targets that include pulmonary arterial hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, anti-emetics, anti-diabetic, antivirals and orally inhaled vaccines and antibiotics. Recent product launches together with the noticeably strong DPI pipeline on the non-asthma, non-COPD m...

A system was devised to establish the optimum treatment for emesis for each individual child receiving cytotoxic treatment. Cytotoxic drugs were ranked on a scale (1-5), with antiemetic regimens correspondingly graded. An age division (< or = 5 years, > 5 years) was included. Cytotoxic treatment was given with co-administration of the parallel antiemetic regimen. Failure to control emesis requi...

A randomised double-blind crossover study was undertaken to compare the anti-emetic efficacy of alizapride against high dose metoclopramide. A total of 32 patients on cisplatin were randomised to receive either high dose metoclopramide (7 mg kg-1 day-1) or alizapride (5 mg kg-1 day-1). Anti-emetic responses in terms of control of vomiting episodes were similar in both regimens (59%). However, p...

PURPOSE To investigate the analgesic effect and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) between the opioid fentanyl and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketorolac in patients who underwent eye amputation surgery. METHODS Retrospective observational case series. Eighty-two patients underwent evisceration or enucleation surgery by one surgeon over a 2-year period. Fentanyl...

AIMS OF THE REVIEW To consider the efficacy of dexamethasone in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting following general anaesthesia and a range of surgical procedures, compared with a placebo of sodium chloride (normal saline). To inform nurses' pharmacological knowledge of the effects of this medication during peri-operative care. BACKGROUND Dexamethasone was serendipitously discovere...