Dimenhydrinate pretreatment in patients receiving intra-arterial ioxaglate: effect on nausea and vomiting.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of the antihistamine dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) as a prophylactic agent against the nausea and vomiting that occasionally accompany the use of ioxaglate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred patients (165 men and 135 women, ranging in age from 18 to 89 [mean 62] years) undergoing noncoronary arteriography received dimenhydrinate or placebo before the injection of the low-osmolality contrast material ioxaglate (Hexabrix). The patients were observed and questioned about nausea and vomiting, as well as many other possible reactions to the contrast material. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in the occurrence of adverse reactions between the groups receiving dimenhydrinate and placebo (chi 2 or Fisher's exact test, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dimenhydrinate, as administered in this study, was ineffective as a prophylactic agent against adverse reactions accompanying administration of ioxaglate.