Conditions: Nausea Vomiting
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 22
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This randomized clinical trial studies ABH (lorazepam, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and haloperidol) gel in patients with nausea. ABH gel, when absorbed into the skin, may be an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting. The general purpose of this research study is to improve the treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Detailed description:
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. The primary outcome is the change in numeric rating scale in self-reported nausea on a 0-10 scale from baseline to 60 minutes of treatment.

OUTLINE: All individuals who are eligible are randomized to a sequence of treatments: either placebo-ABH or ABH-placebo. The randomization list will be generated by the Study Biostatistician. Neither the patient nor the investigator will have knowledge of the actual content of Drug A or B, so the study will be double-blinded, and placebo controlled.

Drug A: The dose of the drugs in the 1.0 mL dose will be 2 mg of lorazepam, 25 mg of diphenhydramine, and 2 mg of haloperidol in a pluronic lecithin organogel. It will be rubbed on the volar surface of the wrists by the subject, for 2 minutes as done in clinical practice, at time 0. Drug B: equivalent but no ABH.

Subjects will rub 1 mL of the first drug, Drug A gel, between their wrists for 2 minutes.

Subjects will be asked to rate and complete their nausea on the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (CMSAS). At time 60 two options can occur. One, if there is no effect after the first drug in one hour, then patients will receive the second drug. If there is no effect in one hour from second drug, patients will stop the study and resume normal treatment for their nausea. Or two, if the first gel reduces nausea by more than 1 point on the 0-10 scale, subjects will wait 4 hours to apply the next gel. At this point, the study procedures will be repeated. After treatment, patients are followed up for up to 8 hours.

Subjects will be asked to rate their nausea on a 0 (no nausea) to 10 (worst possible nausea) scale at baseline, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes.

Subjects will complete the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (CMSAS), a reliable and valid instrument for assessing relevant symptoms including lack of energy, lack of appetite, pain, dry mouth, weight loss, feeling drowsy, shortness of breath, constipation, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and nausea.

Arms:
arm 1: All subjects randomized to two sequences of treatments: either placebo-ABH or ABH-placebo. All participants will receive both drug A and drug B.

After applying gel, Drug A or B, on wrists for 2 minutes, time 0. From baseline to 60 minutes of treatment two options will occur. At 60 minutes, if patients have at least 1 point reduction in their nausea score, they must wait 4 hours before switching to opposite drug. After administration of drug, the study procedures will be repeated. Or, at 60 minutes, if no change or increase in nausea score has been recorded, alternative treatment will be given. If the second treatment is ineffective at one hour (total time 2 hours) then alternative usual medications will be given. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for up to 8 hours. arm 2: All subjects randomized to two sequences of treatments: either placebo-ABH or ABH-placebo. All participants will receive both drug A and drug B.

After applying gel, Drug A or B, on wrists for 2 minutes, time 0. From baseline to 60 minutes of treatment two options will occur. At 60 minutes, if patients have at least 1 point reduction in their nausea score, they must wait 4 hours before switching to opposite drug. After administration of drug, the study procedures will be repeated. Or, at 60 minutes, if no change or increase in nausea score has been recorded, alternative treatment will be given. If the second treatment is ineffective at one hour (total time 2 hours) then alternative usual medications will be given. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for up to 8 hours.

Interventions: intervention 1: ABH gel intervention 2: placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Given topically intervention 2: Given topically

Protocol document: