Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Prophylactic Use of Metoclopramide and Haloperidol on Morphine-induced Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients: A Comparative, Randomised, Prospective Study

Objectives: Morphine is the cornerstone of pain management in a palliative care setting. Nausea with or without vomiting usually occurs when patients are initiated on morphine for the 1^st time or when the dose is substantially increased.

Materials and methods: A total of 90 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into two groups of 45 each. Group M received a tablet of metoclopramide 10 mg orally 3 times a day; Group H received a tablet of haloperidol (2.5 mg) orally at night. All the patients were provided NCI CTCAE V4.3 NAUSEA AND VOMITING SCALE and asked to mark their response from day 1 to day 7. At the follow-up visit on the 7^th day, the form was collected, and data were analysed.

Results: In Group M and Group H, the mean nausea score was between 1 and 2 and the difference was statistically insignificant. In Group M, the maximum vomiting score was 1.28 on day 5, while in Group H, the maximum score was 2 on day 5. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Metoclopramide and haloperidol are equally efficacious in preventing nausea, but metoclopramide was found to be more effective with lesser side effects than haloperidol for morphine-induced vomiting in cancer patients when used prophylactically.