Patients with cancer frequently report gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. A reduction of the severity of some of these symptoms would benefit the patient by enhancing quality of life and improving their treatment. Forty-eight patients (25 female and 23 male; mean age 63 +/- 11 years) with a minimum two-week history of cancer-associated gastrointestinal symptoms were assigned to a single, open-label treatment group and received controlled-release metoclopramide 20 mg-80 mg q12h for a maximum period of 12 weeks (mean 46 +/- 35 days). There was a 40%-60% decrease in the severity of nausea over the first two weeks of treatment, and an approximate 50% reduction in severity of vomiting over the first four weeks of treatment. Appetite and bloating also improved, although smaller and less consistent changes were observed. Patient ratings of overall clinical effectiveness with respect to relief from symptoms and tolerability of side effects indicated that controlled-release metoclopramide was highly and moderately effective in 36% and 30% of the patients, respectively. Controlled-release metoclopramide is a useful treatment for the management of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with the cancer-associated dyspepsia syndrome including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and bloating.
Adult Aged