This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Rousseau, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rousseau, P. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Pain Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The palliative use of high-dose corticosteroids in three terminally ill patients with pain

Geriatrics and Extended Care, VA Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, RTA Hospice and Palliative Care, Phoenix, Arizona, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, Arizona, Adult Development and Aging, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Corticosteroids are valuable pharmacological adjuncts utilized in the management of the diverse symptoms observed in terminally ill patients, including bone, neuropathic, and hepatic pain, asthenia and fatigue, and anorexia, and serve as an adjunct for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. If relief of suffering is the goal and mandate of palliative care, high-dose corticosteroids should be utilized in terminally ill patients for quickly reducing pain and improving quality of life for both patients and family members. In patients with a limited life expectancy of days to several weeks, long-term side effects will not occur and therefore should not preclude the continuous use of corticosteroids until the patient’s death. Three case studies are presented.

Key Words: corticosteroids • dexamethasone • methylprednisolone • pain control • prednisolone • prednisone • symptom management

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 18, No. 5, 343-346 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/104990910101800510


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. E. Haines and R. M. Stanley Perspective on "Chemotherapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer: 25 Years Later": Is It a Mirage or an Oasis? J. Clin. Oncol., August 20, 2008; 26(24): 4049 - 4050. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Rousseau Sudden withdrawal of corticosteroids: A commentary American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, May 1, 2004; 21(3): 169 - 171. [PDF]