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conferenceseries
.com
Volume 7, Issue 3 (Suppl)
J Palliat Care Med, an open access journal
ISSN: 2165-7386
Palliative Care 2017
June 21- 22, 2017
3
rd
International Conference on
June 21- 22, 2017 | Philadelphia, USA
Palliative Care & Hospice Nursing
DEXTROAMPHETAMINE SULFATE PROVIDES MARKED IMPROVEMENT FOR PATIENTS
SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC FATIGUE EVENWHEN THE ETIOLOGY IS UNEXPLAINED
Diane Check
a
, Brittney Katsoff
b
, Jerome H Check
a
, Rachael Cohen
a
and
Deanna Greco
a
a
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, USA
b
Vitas Healthcare: Hospice and Palliative Care, USA
Statement of problem:
Dextroamphetamine sulfate is an approved drug for chronic fatigue associated with cancer and multiple
sclerosis. The question that the present study was designed to answer is whether the sympathomimetic amine therapy only helps
chronic fatigue associated with cancer, and multiple sclerosis, or could it be used in patients in apparent good health but plagued by
severe unexplained chronic fatigue.
Methods:
Dextroamphetamine sulfate extended release capsules were administered to 50 patients with unexplained chronic fatigue
(thyroid, adrenal, infectious and autoimmune etiologies excluded). The dosage could be increased on a monthly basis to a maximum
of 60mg/day. Six months following the final dosage the patients answered a questionnaire: fatigue – 1) worse, 2) stable but no better,
3) slightly better, 4) moderately better, 5) markedly better.
Results:
Forty-eight of 50 patients (96%) stated markedly better and 2 patients moderately better.
Conclusions:
Dextroamphetamine sulfate not only improves the chronic fatigue for patients with cancer and multiple sclerosis, but
also very effective relieves chronic fatigue in otherwise physically normal patients. Thus, this study will hopefully encourage palliative
care specialists to consider this treatment for chronic fatigue for other debilitating conditions besides cancer and multiple sclerosis.
Furthermore, through approved for chronic fatigue for cancer patients, the drug is likely underutilized by palliative care specialists
for patients with cancer. Hopefully this study will generate more interest in treating patients with cancer with dextroamphetamine
sulfate. The mechanism is likely related to stimulating the release of dopamine from sympathetic nerve fibers. Dopamine decreases
cellular permeability and it has been hypothesized that chemicals permeating into mitochondria may cause dysfunction of the
mitochondria in muscles leading to fatigue.
laurie@ccivf.coDiane Check et al., J Palliat Care Med 2017, 7:3(Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2165-7386-C1-008