Sublingually administered scopolamine for nausea in terminally ill cancer patients.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The primary aim of this study was to clarify the effect of sublingual scopolamine on the intensity of nausea.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

This was an open uncontrolled study, and the study participants were cancer patients consecutively admitted to a palliative care unit in Japan. When the patients had nausea, they were administered a solution of scopolamine at 0.15 mg sublingually. The intensities of nausea were assessed using the 6-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS 0 = no nausea to 5 = worst nausea) before and 15, 30, and 60 min after administration. Primary endpoints were (1) changes in the NRS of nausea and (2) percentage of patients who achieved a decrease in NRS of 1 or more points 15 min after treatment.

RESULTS:

Twenty-six patients were recruited for this study. The median NRS significantly decreased from 3.0 (range, 1-5) to 1.5 (0-5) after 15 min, and 84 % (n = 21) of the patients achieved a decrease in NRS of 1 or more points after 15 min. In addition, the median NRS significantly decreased from 3.0 (before) to 0 (30 min) and 0 (60 min). The percentage of patients who achieved a decrease in NRS over 1 point was 96 % (n = 25) in 30 min and 100 % (n = 26) in 60 min. Fifteen percent (n = 4) showed drowsiness. No other adverse effects were reported.

CONCLUSION:

Sublingually administered scopolamine may be effective for managing nausea in terminally ill cancer patients. Randomized controlled trials are promising.

• Authors: Kengo Imai, Masayuki Ikenaga, Tomoyuki Kodama, Seitetsu Kanemura, Keiko Tamura, Tatsuya Morita
• Journal: Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (Support Care Cancer) Vol. 21 Issue 10 Pg. 2777-81 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1433-7339 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23722950 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Scopolamine

Topics

• Administration, Sublingual
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antiemetics (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Japan
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nausea (drug therapy, etiology)
• Neoplasms (complications, drug therapy)
• Palliative Care (methods)
• Scopolamine (administration & dosage)
• Terminally Ill