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Overview
Granisetron (tablet) is an antinauseant and antiemetic agent that is FDA approved for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with:1) initial and repeat courses of emetogenic cancer therapy, including high-dose cisplatin;2) radiation, including total body irradiation and fractionated abdominal radiation. Common adverse reactions include asthenia, headache, somnolence, and fever.
Adult Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
Indications
Granisetron hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the prevention of:
Nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of emetogenic cancer therapy, including high-dose cisplatin.
Nausea and vomiting associated with radiation, including total body irradiation and fractionated abdominal radiation.
Dosage
Emetogenic Chemotherapy
The recommended adult dosage of oral granisetron hydrochloride tablets is 2 mg once daily or 1 mg twice daily. In the 2 mg once-daily regimen, two 1 mg tablets are given up to 1 hour before chemotherapy. In the 1 mg twice-daily regimen, the first 1 mg tablet is given up to 1 hour before chemotherapy, and the second tablet 12 hours after the first. Either regimen is administered only on the day(s) chemotherapy is given. Continued treatment, while not on chemotherapy, has not been found to be useful.
Radiation
The recommended adult dosage of oral granisetron hydrochloride tablets is 2 mg once daily. Two 1 mg tablets are taken within 1 hour of radiation.
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)
Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Granisetron (tablet) in adult patients.
Non–Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Non–Guideline-Supported Use of Granisetron (tablet) in adult patients.
Pediatric Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
Indications
Granisetron hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the prevention of:
Nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of emetogenic cancer therapy, including high-dose cisplatin.
Nausea and vomiting associated with radiation, including total body irradiation and fractionated abdominal radiation.
Dosage
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)
Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Granisetron (tablet) in pediatric patients.
Non–Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Non–Guideline-Supported Use of Granisetron (tablet) in pediatric patients.
Contraindications
Granisetron hydrochloride tablets are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug or any of its components.
Warnings
Serotonin Syndrome
The development of serotonin syndrome has been reported with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. Most reports have been associated with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors, mirtazapine, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, and intravenous methylene blue). Some of the reported cases were fatal. Serotonin syndrome occurring with overdose of another 5-HT3 receptor antagonist alone has also been reported. The majority of reports of serotonin syndrome related to 5-HT3 receptor antagonist use occurred in a post-anesthesia care unit or an infusion center.
Symptoms associated with serotonin syndrome may include the following combination of signs and symptoms: mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, delirium, and coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, dizziness, diaphoresis, flushing, hyperthermia), neuromuscular symptoms (e.g., tremor, rigidity, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, incoordination), seizures, with or without gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Patients should be monitored for the emergence of serotonin syndrome, especially with concomitant use of granisetron and other serotonergic drugs. If symptoms of serotonin syndrome occur, discontinue granisetron and initiate supportive treatment. Patients should be informed of the increased risk of serotonin syndrome, especially if granisetron is used concomitantly with other serotonergic drugs
Adverse Reactions
Clinical Trials Experience
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
In patients receiving granisetron hydrochloride tablets 1 mg twice a day for 1, 7 or 14 days, or 2 mg once a day for 1 day, adverse experiences reported in more than 5% of the patients with comparator and placebo incidences are listed in Table 4.
This image is provided by the National Library of Medicine.
Other adverse events reported in clinical trials were:
Gastrointestinal: In single-day dosing studies in which adverse events were collected for 7 days, nausea (20%) and vomiting (12%) were recorded as adverse events after the 24-hour efficacy assessment period.
Hepatic: In comparative trials, elevation of AST and ALT (>2 times the upper limit of normal) following the administration of granisetron hydrochloride tablets occurred in 5% and 6% of patients, respectively. These frequencies were not significantly different from those seen with comparators (AST: 2%; ALT: 9%).
Cardiovascular: Hypertension (1%); hypotension, angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation, and syncope have been observed rarely.
Central Nervous System: Dizziness (5%), insomnia (5%), anxiety (2%), somnolence (1%). One case compatible with, but not diagnostic of, extrapyramidal symptoms has been reported in a patient treated with granisetron hydrochloride tablets.
Hypersensitivity: Rare cases of hypersensitivity reactions, sometimes severe (eg, anaphylaxis, shortness of breath, hypotension, urticaria) have been reported.
Other: Fever (5%). Events often associated with chemotherapy also have been reported: leukopenia (9%), decreased appetite (6%), anemia (4%), alopecia (3%), thrombocytopenia (2%).
Over 5000 patients have received injectable granisetron hydrochloride in clinical trials.
Table 5 gives the comparative frequencies of the five commonly reported adverse events (≥ 3%) in patients receiving granisetron hydrochloride injection, 40 mcg/kg, in single-day chemotherapy trials. These patients received chemotherapy, primarily cisplatin, and intravenous fluids during the 24-hour period following granisetron hydrochloride injection administration.
This image is provided by the National Library of Medicine.
In the absence of a placebo group, there is uncertainty as to how many of these events should be attributed to granisetron hydrochloride, except for headache, which was clearly more frequent than in comparison groups.
Radiation-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
In controlled clinical trials, the adverse events reported by patients receiving granisetron hydrochloride tablets and concurrent radiation were similar to those reported by patients receiving granisetron hydrochloride tablets prior to chemotherapy. The most frequently reported adverse events were diarrhea, asthenia, and constipation. Headache, however, was less prevalent in this patient population.
Postmarketing Experience
QT prolongation has been reported with granisetron hydrochloride
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