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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 9/2005

01-09-2005 | Original Article

An open study of methotrimeprazine in the management of nausea and vomiting in patients with advanced cancer

Authors: A. Kennett, J. Hardy, S. Shah, R. A’Hern

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 9/2005

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Abstract

Introduction

Nausea and vomiting are distressing symptoms affecting between 20% and 70% of patients with advanced cancer. Methotrimeprazine is a phenothiazine antipsychotic used in palliative care for the management of terminal agitation and nausea/vomiting but there is only anecdotal evidence to support its use in palliative care.

Aim

To establish whether nausea/vomiting in palliative care patients is improved by the administration of low-dose methotrimeprazine.

Methods

Patients with advanced malignancy were entered at different treatment levels according to symptom severity. The dose was altered according to response (minimum dose 6.25 mg daily po, maximum 25 mg by 24-h subcutaneous infusion). Symptoms and side effects were recorded daily from 0 (baseline) to day 5 using a four-point scale. Any improvement in nausea/vomiting score was taken as a response.

Results

Sixty-five patients were entered. The cause of nausea and vomiting was multifactorial in the majority of patients, 35/65 (54%). As expected in a study of patients with poor performance status, the attrition rate was high. Of 53 patients evaluable for response at day 2, 33 (62%) showed some improvement in nausea or vomiting. At day 5, improvement was seen in 20/34 (58%). There was no significant change in “side effects” from baseline with time.

Conclusion

These results suggest that methotrimeprazine has antiemetic activity.
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Metadata
Title
An open study of methotrimeprazine in the management of nausea and vomiting in patients with advanced cancer
Authors
A. Kennett
J. Hardy
S. Shah
R. A’Hern
Publication date
01-09-2005
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 9/2005
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0768-1

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