Siu, S.W.K., Law, M., Liu, R.K.Y., Wong, K.H., Soong, I.S., Kwok, A.O.L., . . . Leung, T.W. (2014). Use of methylphenidate for the management of fatigue in Chinese patients with cancer. American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 31, 281–286.
To determine whether methylphenidate is useful for the management of fatigue in Chinese patients with cancer in the palliative care setting
Oral methylphenidate 5 mg daily; reassessed at day 8 and day 29 (if patient was still in study)
Prospective study
For patients < 65 years old, scores were significantly lower at day 8 than at baseline but not at day 29. There were no significant differences at day 29 or in patients > 65 years old. Ten out of 24 patients stopped methylphenidate before day 8, with eight of the withdraws due to side effects of medication.
This study demonstrated no clinically significant effect for methylphenidate on cancer-related fatigue.
Methylphenidate is not recommended for the management of cancer-related fatigue.