Lower, E. E., Fleishman, S., Cooper, A., Zeldis, J., Faleck, H., Yu, Z., & Manning, D. (2009). Efficacy of dexmethylphenidate for the treatment of fatigue after cancer chemotherapy: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 38(5), 650–662.
The study's primary aim was to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect and safety of dexmethylphenidate (d-MPH) in the treatment of patients with chemotherapy-related fatigue. Its secondary aim was to examine the impact of d-MPH on cognitive functioning.
Participants were randomized to a placebo group or an intervention group receiving 5 mg of d-MPH twice daily (10 mg/day total).
The study took place across 24 academic and community-based cancer centers.
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.
Cognitive measures were taken with the
Other measures were taken with the
The primary outcome of focus was fatigue. Participants treated with d-MPH had significant improvement in fatigue symptoms at week 8 on the FACIT-F (p = 0.02) and on the CGI-S (p = 0.02). The d-MPH treatment group had higher drug-related events (63% vs. 28%) and greater discontinuation of medication (11% vs. 1.3%) than the placebo group. Cognitive function was not significantly improved.
d-MPH can be of benefit in the treatment of fatigue. However, results do not support d-MPH-mediated reduction in cognitive impairment in adult patients with cancer after chemotherapy.