This Australian emergency department trial randomly assigned 258 nauseated adults to IV ondansetron, IV metoclopramide, or a saline placebo.
Nausea scores dropped meaningfully in all three groups, 27, 28, and 23 points on a 100-point scale respectively, and the drug groups were not statistically better than placebo.
The striking finding was how much placebo patients improved with routine supportive emergency care. The authors suggested general supportive treatment may be sufficient for most ED patients with nausea.
The trial cannot isolate exactly which part of supportive care drove the improvement. It is an honest data point: nausea often improves substantially with basic care.
A single-setting ER trial; it cannot isolate which part of supportive care, fluids, rest, or time, drove the improvement.
These are factual summaries of published research, provided for general information. They are not medical advice, and IV Drip Dash is not a medical provider. Licensed providers make all clinical decisions.
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