The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review
Background: One of the goals of cancer treatment is symptoms management especially at the end stage. The common symptoms in cancer include pain, fatigue, depression and cognitive dysfunction. The available treatment options for symptom management are limited. Methylphenidate, a psychostimulant, may...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Bentham Science Publishers
2018
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74280/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74280/1/The%20use%20of%20methylphenidate%20for%20physical%20and%20psychological%20symptoms%20in%20cancer%20patients.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848857468742926336 |
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| author | Andrew, Beatrice Ng Guan, Ng Chong Nik Jaafar, Nik Ruzyanei |
| author_facet | Andrew, Beatrice Ng Guan, Ng Chong Nik Jaafar, Nik Ruzyanei |
| author_sort | Andrew, Beatrice Ng |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: One of the goals of cancer treatment is symptoms management especially at the end stage. The common symptoms in cancer include pain, fatigue, depression and cognitive dysfunction. The available treatment options for symptom management are limited. Methylphenidate, a psychostimulant, may be of benefit for these patients. In this report, we review the use of methylphenidate for symptoms control in cancer patients. Method: Electronic literature search on PubMed was conducted using the following keywords: methylphenidate, cancer, carcinoma, oncology, oncological and tumour. We identified forty two relevant studies and publications on the use of methylphenidate in cancer patients to be included in this review. Results: Methylphenidate was found to have some evidence in reducing opioid-induced sedation, improving cognitive symptoms and reduction of fatigue in cancer patients. Nevertheless, the results were inconsistent due to variations in the study populations, study design and outcome measures, among others. There was minimal evidence on its use in treating depression. Otherwise, methylphenidate was generally well-tolerated by patients. Conclusion: This review potentially supports the use of methylphenidate for opioid-induced sedation, cognitive decline and fatigue in cancer patients. Further placebo-controlled trials would help in strengthening the evidence for this treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T11:58:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-74280 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T11:58:02Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Bentham Science Publishers |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-742802020-04-02T08:21:38Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74280/ The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review Andrew, Beatrice Ng Guan, Ng Chong Nik Jaafar, Nik Ruzyanei Background: One of the goals of cancer treatment is symptoms management especially at the end stage. The common symptoms in cancer include pain, fatigue, depression and cognitive dysfunction. The available treatment options for symptom management are limited. Methylphenidate, a psychostimulant, may be of benefit for these patients. In this report, we review the use of methylphenidate for symptoms control in cancer patients. Method: Electronic literature search on PubMed was conducted using the following keywords: methylphenidate, cancer, carcinoma, oncology, oncological and tumour. We identified forty two relevant studies and publications on the use of methylphenidate in cancer patients to be included in this review. Results: Methylphenidate was found to have some evidence in reducing opioid-induced sedation, improving cognitive symptoms and reduction of fatigue in cancer patients. Nevertheless, the results were inconsistent due to variations in the study populations, study design and outcome measures, among others. There was minimal evidence on its use in treating depression. Otherwise, methylphenidate was generally well-tolerated by patients. Conclusion: This review potentially supports the use of methylphenidate for opioid-induced sedation, cognitive decline and fatigue in cancer patients. Further placebo-controlled trials would help in strengthening the evidence for this treatment. Bentham Science Publishers 2018 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74280/1/The%20use%20of%20methylphenidate%20for%20physical%20and%20psychological%20symptoms%20in%20cancer%20patients.pdf Andrew, Beatrice Ng and Guan, Ng Chong and Nik Jaafar, Nik Ruzyanei (2018) The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review. Current Drug Targets, 19 (8). 877 - 887. ISSN 1389-4501; EISSN: 1873-5592 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28322161 10.2174/1389450118666170317162603 |
| spellingShingle | Andrew, Beatrice Ng Guan, Ng Chong Nik Jaafar, Nik Ruzyanei The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review |
| title | The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review |
| title_full | The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review |
| title_fullStr | The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review |
| title_short | The use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review |
| title_sort | use of methylphenidate for physical and psychological symptoms in cancer patients: a review |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74280/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74280/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74280/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/74280/1/The%20use%20of%20methylphenidate%20for%20physical%20and%20psychological%20symptoms%20in%20cancer%20patients.pdf |