Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 8, 159-165, Copyright © 1961 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Studies Of Anti-Emetic Drugs: A Comparative Study Of Cyclizine (Marzine®), Pipamazine (Mornidine®), Trimethobenzamide (Tigan®), And Hyoscine

¹ Department of Anaesthesia, Women's College Hospital, Toronto

The anti-emetic effect of cyclizine (Marzine®), pipamazine, (Mornidine®), trimethobenzamide (Tigan®), and hyoscine have been studied and compared in 781 surgical patients selected at random. The drugs were given intramuscularly with the preoperative sedative, and again 15 minutes after arrival in the recovery room. Analysis of the results showed that cyclizine was the most effective in reducing postoperative vomiting, but it was important to realize that it had a potentiating effect on the sedative drugs. Pipamazine also gave statistically significant results, but the incidence of hypotension occurring in the recovery room gave rise to some anxiety. A reduction in dosage minimized this side effect without impairing the anti-emetic effect of pipamazine. Trimethobenzamide did not appear to be effective in this study, and it is thought that since it does not give rise to side effects it could be employed in larger doses, and in this way might prove more effective. Hyoscine given preoperatively gave only fair protection in our series.