A RCT of Ondansetron and Promethazine in the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in the Emergency Department
A RCT of Ondansetron and Promethazine in the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in the Emergency Department
This was a trial comparing two commonly used medications for nausea and vomiting, ondansetron
 and promethazine, in the Emergency Department.
Nausea and vomiting are common complaints in the emergency department (ED). There are many
 pharmacologic agents used for the treatment of these complaints. None are new nor
 experimental. Very little research has been done in the ED setting to determine which of
 these agents is most effective with the least adverse effects. Our own previous research
 found that droperidol but not prochlorperazine and metoclopramide is more effective than
 placebo. Because of the recent FDA black box warning added to droperidol, the use of this
 agent has suddenly ceased in many EDs. Promethazine remains a very commonly used antiemetic
 in many EDs but one recent study found it less effective than prochlorperazine which was in
 turn found no more effective than placebo in our own study. As a result many physicians have
 turned to ondansetron, a newer and more expensive agent. Experience among anesthesiologists
 and oncologists has shown ondansetron to be highly effective with a minimum of adverse
 effects. These patient populations, however, are very different from those found in the ED.
 It is our hypothesis that promethazine and ondansetron are equally effective for the ED
 treatment of unselected patients with nausea and vomiting with similar rates of adverse
 effects.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 18 or older

 -  Chief complaint of nausea or vomiting

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Age less than 18

 -  unable to provide informed consent

 -  rate nausea at < 40 mm on 100 mm VAS

 -  received antiemetic within 24 hours

 -  pregnant or possibly pregnant

 -  reported allergy to either study medication

 -  received more than 1 liter of intravenous fluids

 -  their primary ED physician declined to have patient participate