Ritalin: Antiasthenic Effect of Methylphenidate (Ritalin) in Palliative Care in Cancer Patients

Summary

The aim/objective of this study is to evaluate the antiasthenic effect of methylphenidate with a visual analogical scale (VAS) after 7 days of treatment, in cancer patients, in palliative care, i.e. with a progressive or terminal disease.

Timeline

Start

2007-01

Primary completion

2009-06

Completion

2009-06

Publications

• Background Bruera E, Miller MJ, Macmillan K, Kuehn N. Neuropsychological effects of methylphenidate in patients receiving a continuous infusion of narcotics for cancer pain. Pain. 1992 Feb;48(2):163-166. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(92)90053-E.
• Background Wilwerding MB, Loprinzi CL, Mailliard JA, O'Fallon JR, Miser AW, van Haelst C, Barton DL, Foley JF, Athmann LM. A randomized, crossover evaluation of methylphenidate in cancer patients receiving strong narcotics. Support Care Cancer. 1995 Mar;3(2):135-8. doi: 10.1007/BF00365854.
• Background Rozans M, Dreisbach A, Lertora JJ, Kahn MJ. Palliative uses of methylphenidate in patients with cancer: a review. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Jan 1;20(1):335-9. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2002.20.1.335.
• Background Bruera E, Chadwick S, Brenneis C, Hanson J, MacDonald RN. Methylphenidate associated with narcotics for the treatment of cancer pain. Cancer Treat Rep. 1987 Jan;71(1):67-70.
• Background Bruera E, Driver L, Barnes EA, Willey J, Shen L, Palmer JL, Escalante C. Patient-controlled methylphenidate for the management of fatigue in patients with advanced cancer: a preliminary report. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Dec 1;21(23):4439-43. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2003.06.156.

Drugs

Indications