Ondansetron vs Prochlorperazine for Nausea and Vomiting in the Emergency Department

Ondansetron vs Prochlorperazine for Nausea and Vomiting in the Emergency Department

This study will compare the effect of prochlorperazine and ondansetron for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in the emergency department.

Nausea and vomiting can be common symptoms in the emergency department (ED). Antiemetics, agents to treat nausea and vomiting, include phenothiazine derivatives, prokinetic agents, and 5-HT3 antagonists. There have been limited studies on the use of these agents in the ED, and no direct comparisons to 5-HT3 antagonists have been published to date.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients presenting to the ED with at least one of the following

• nausea
• vomiting documented in the ED

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients presenting to the ED with at least one of the following
• Nausea
• Vomiting documented in the ED

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous treatment in the ED with Ondansetron, prochlorperazine, promethazine or metaclopramide
• Patients with missed last menstrual period
• Pregnancy
• Age < 18 years old
• Treatment with antineoplastic agents within 7 days prior to randomization
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gastroparesis
• Suspected gastrointestinal bleed
• Suspected intestinal obstruction
• Preexisting motor disorder (Restless-leg syndrome or Parkinson's disease)
• Traumatic brain injury upon admission to ED
• Intracranial hemorrhage upon admission to ED
• Patients unable to read, write or communicate in the English language
• Patients leaving the ED against medical advice