Management of anorexia-cachexia associated with cancer and HIV infection

The cachexia associated with cancer and AIDS appears to result from a number of processes, most of which impair caloric intake. Although past attempts to reverse anorexia-cachexia have generally been disappointing, several promising new pharmacologic approaches are currently being evaluated, including megestrol acetate, hydrazine sulfate, metoclopramide, and dronabinol.