The efficacy of combining ondansetron with dexamethasone in delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy is the primary recourse for patients with cancer that cannot be treated using local surgery or radiotherapy. Its practical application often leads to adverse effects, including nausea and vomiting. Objective: This study determined the efficacy of oral ondansetron and oral dexamethasone as an antiemetic regimen among patients covered by the National Health Insurance. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted at one of the largest hospitals in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, involved 114 chemotherapy patients who received a combination antiemetic regimen of ondansetron and dexamethasone. Data on the incidence of delayed nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy were collected using the Index Nausea Vomiting and Retching (INVR) questionnaire from March to May 2023. Results: A cohort of 114 individuals were enrolled in the present investigation, with 57.02% and 42.98% of the participants receiving non-anthracycline and anthracycline-based treatment protocols, respectively. The results showed that only 1.84% of patients did not experience chemotherapy-related adverse events, 13.16% experienced mild symptoms, 21.84% had moderate symptoms, 55.26% faced severe symptoms, and 7.89% suffered from intense symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Conclusion: The antiemetic regimen covered by Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS) (Social Insurance Administration Organization), consisting of a combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone, is moderately effective in preventing chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea and vomiting.