Low-dose levomepromazine in refractory emesis in advanced cancer patients: an open-label study.

Abstract

Seventy patients with advanced cancer and refractory emesis were treated with subcutaneous boluses of levomepromazine (median daily dose: 6.25 mg; range: 3.12-25) in an open-label prospective study. Treatment was associated with a decrease in nausea from a median of 8/10 at baseline (IQR 7-8) to a median of 1 (IQR 0-2) after two days of treatment (P<0.0001); vomiting ceased in 92% of cases. It was possible to remove the nasogastric tube from all 11 patients who had one. The most frequently reported side effect was sedation, with a median of 2/10 (25-75% percentile 1-3), which was not correlated with the dose of levomepromazine. This study suggests that treatment with low-dose levomepromazine is an effective and safe option for advanced cancer patients who fail to respond to first-line antiemetic treatment.

• Authors: Jorge H Eisenchlas, Nicolás Garrigue, Marta Junin, Gustavo G De Simone
• Journal: Palliative medicine (Palliat Med) Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 71-5 (Jan 2005) ISSN: 0269-2163 [Print] England
• PMID: 15690871 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Methotrimeprazine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antiemetics (administration & dosage)
• Chronic Disease
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Male
• Methotrimeprazine (administration & dosage)
• Middle Aged
• Nausea (drug therapy)
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Prospective Studies
• Vomiting (drug therapy)