Subcutaneous octreotide versus oral loperamide in the treatment of diarrhea following chemotherapy.
Forty patients with chemotherapy-related diarrhea were randomized to receive (i) octreotide 0.5 mg three times per day s.c. or (ii) loperamide 4 mg three times per day p.o. until complete remission of diarrhea was achieved. In the octreotide group 80% of patients showed complete resolution of loose bowel movements within 4 days of therapy, while in the loperamide group this goal was obtained in only 30% of cases (p < 0.001). If after 4 days no benefit was seen, patients were considered to have failed antidiarrheal therapy. Failure was recorded in only one case (5%) treated with s.c. octreotide and in five patients (25%) who received loperamide. The mean duration of antidiarrheal therapy necessary to achieve remission was 3.4 days in the octreotide group and 6.1 days in the loperamide group (p < 0.001). Treatment with octreotide was very well tolerated with mild abdominal pain in 15% of cases and pain in the injection site in 15% of patients. Subcutaneous octreotide is highly effective in the management of chemotherapy-related diarrhea in cancer patients.
Gebbia
V
V
University of Palermo, Chair and Service of Chemotherapy, Italy.
Carreca
I
I
Testa
A
A
Valenza
R
R
Curto
G
G
Cannata
G
G
Borsellino
N
N
Latteri
M A
MA
Cipolla
C
C
Florena
M
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008139:Loperamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D015282:Octreotide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008139:Loperamide; D015282:Octreotide