To assess the efficacy of haloperidol as an antiemetic in patients with cancer and N/V not related to cancer treatment.
Patients with an N/V score of at least 1 on a 4-point scale were prescribed either oral or subcutaneous haloperidol. N/V and toxicity were assessed daily for the duration of the study (maximum five days) by both the patient and an observer (health professional).
At Day 2, 33 of 42 (79 % ) treated patients were assessable for response. Eight (24 % ; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 10 % –39 % ) patients had complete control of N/V and 12 (36 % ; 95 % CI: 20 % –53 % ) had partial control, giving an overall response rate of 61 % (95 % CI: 44 % –77 % ). At Day 5, 23 patients were assessable for response. The overall response rate was 17 of 23 (74 % ; 95 % CI: 56 % –92 % ). If all patients are included in the response analysis, the overall response rates at Days 2 and 5 were 47 % and 40 % , respectively.
Haloperidol has some efficacy in the treatment of N/V in this patient group. The results from this uncontrolled study provide pilot data from which to plan future controlled trials of antiemetics in the palliative care population.