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Sleep protects against chemotherapy induced emesis
L Domínguez-Ortega1, R Cubedo-Cervera, H Cortés-Funés
1Internal Medicine Department, Hospital 12 de Octubre Madrid, Spain.
Cancer
|April 15, 1996
Summary
Administering chemotherapy during sleep may reduce nausea and vomiting. This study found that reducing antiemetic drugs did not increase emesis when patients slept during chemotherapy administration.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Chemotherapy-induced emesis is a significant side effect.
- Current antiemetic prophylaxis can be burdensome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if administering chemotherapy during sleep reduces chemotherapy-related emesis.
- To evaluate the impact of reduced antiemetic prophylaxis when sleep is utilized.
Main Methods:
- A clinical trial involving adult patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy.
- Gradual reduction of antiemetic prophylaxis (ondansetron and dexamethasone) in subsequent patient groups.
- Cisplatin administration timed with patient sleep cycles.
Main Results:
- Twenty-one patients were enrolled, allowing for complete withdrawal of antiemetic prophylaxis.
- Significant vomiting occurred only when prophylaxis was entirely removed.
- No significant emesis was observed in patients receiving reduced or zero prophylaxis while sleeping.
Conclusions:
- Chemotherapy administration during sleep may mitigate emetic toxicity.
- Sleep appears to possess an antiemetic property that warrants further investigation.
- This approach could offer clinical utility in preventing chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.