The cough from hell: diazepam for intractable cough in a patient with renal cell carcinoma.
Cough is a common symptom in cancer. Its underlying cause should be managed when identified; otherwise, empiric treatment is the mainstay of symptom control. Cancer-related cough usually responds to radiation therapy, an opioid, or benzonatate, a peripheral anesthetic. We present the case of a patient with renal cell carcinoma hospitalized for intractable cough that failed to respond adequately to usual treatments, but improved with diazepam.
Estfan
Bassam
B
The Harry R Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Walsh
Declan
D
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003975:Diazepam