INTRODUCTION: To assess the efficacy of Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, for prophylaxis against paclitaxel-induced myalgia and arthralgia, a comparative study was conducted with 50 patients treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were alternatively assigned to receive either the intervention group (with Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to) or the control group (without Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to). We assessed the grade and the duration of myalgia and arthralgia.RESULTS: The grades of myalgia and arthralgia in the control group were significantly higher than the grades determined in the intervention group (p = 0.018). The mean duration of myalgia and arthralgia was 2.78 +/- 2.09 days for the intervention group and 5.08 +/- 2.89 days for the control group. The duration was significantly shorter in the intervention group than in the control group (p = 0.002).DISCUSSION: This study shows that prophylactic administration of Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to was effective against paclitaxel-induced myalgia and arthralgia.
Adult Aged