PURPOSE: Cancer is, unfortunately, often a terminal disease. The goal of therapy for many patients with cancer is palliation of symptoms common at the end of life, including pain, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant most commonly used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this report, we review the use of methylphenidate in the palliative care of patients with cancer. METHODS: This review was written on the basis of a computerized literature search of Medline. We considered all English language publications from 1966 to present using the following key words: methylphenidate, palliative care, and cancer. Forty-nine articles were identified as being relevant for this review. RESULTS: On the basis of this review, we came to the conclusion that methylphenidate is used to ameliorate opioid-induced somnolence, to augment the analgesic effects of opioids, to treat depression, and to improve cognitive function in patients with cancer. CONCLUSION: The medical literature supports the palliative use of methylphenidate in the care of patients with cancer. Further placebo-controlled trials are needed to elucidate the precise role that methylphenidate will have in providing symptom relief to dying patients.
PURPOSE:Cancer is, unfortunately, often a terminal disease. The goal of therapy for many patients with cancer is palliation of symptoms common at the end of life, including pain, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant most commonly used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this report, we review the use of methylphenidate in the palliative care of patients with cancer. METHODS: This review was written on the basis of a computerized literature search of Medline. We considered all English language publications from 1966 to present using the following key words: methylphenidate, palliative care, and cancer. Forty-nine articles were identified as being relevant for this review. RESULTS: On the basis of this review, we came to the conclusion that methylphenidate is used to ameliorate opioid-induced somnolence, to augment the analgesic effects of opioids, to treat depression, and to improve cognitive function in patients with cancer. CONCLUSION: The medical literature supports the palliative use of methylphenidate in the care of patients with cancer. Further placebo-controlled trials are needed to elucidate the precise role that methylphenidate will have in providing symptom relief to dying patients.
Authors: Rob G Stirling; S M Evans; P McLaughlin; M Senthuren; J Millar; J Gooi; L Irving; P Mitchell; A Haydon; J Ruben; M Conron; T Leong; N Watkins; J J McNeil Journal: Lung Date: 2014-06-08 Impact factor: 2.584
Authors: Amy Hanna; George Sledge; Mary Lou Mayer; Nasser Hanna; Lawrence Einhorn; Patrick Monahan; Joanne Daggy; Sumeet Bhatia Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2005-08-12 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Thomas W McAllister; Tim A Ahles; Andrew J Saykin; Robert J Ferguson; Brenna C McDonald; Lionel D Lewis; Laura A Flashman; C Harker Rhodes Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 5.285