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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 10/2013

01-10-2013 | Original Article

Sublingually administered scopolamine for nausea in terminally ill cancer patients

Authors: Kengo Imai, Masayuki Ikenaga, Tomoyuki Kodama, Seitetsu Kanemura, Keiko Tamura, Tatsuya Morita

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 10/2013

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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.
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Metadata
Title
Sublingually administered scopolamine for nausea in terminally ill cancer patients
Authors
Kengo Imai
Masayuki Ikenaga
Tomoyuki Kodama
Seitetsu Kanemura
Keiko Tamura
Tatsuya Morita
Publication date
01-10-2013
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 10/2013
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1846-z

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