Affiliation:
1. Department of Psychiatry Kitasato University School of Medicine Sagamihara‐shi Japan
2. Department of Psychiatry Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences Sagamihara‐shi Japan
3. Department of Research and Development Center for New Medical Frontiers Kitasato University School of Medicine Sagamihara‐shi Japan
4. Department of Anesthesiology Kitasato University School of Medicine Sagamihara‐shi Japan
Abstract
AbstractAimPatients with cancer often experience nausea and vomiting (N/V), but may have difficulty using olanzapine (OLZ), a common antiemetic. Asenapine (ASE) is a multi‐acting receptor‐targeted antipsychotic like OLZ, although there is little evidence that ASE serves as an antiemetic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ASE compared to those of OLZ for the treatment of N/V in patients with cancer.MethodsThis retrospective study involved patients who received 5 mg ASE, 5 mg OLZ, or 2.5 mg OLZ for 2 days. Daily worst N/V was rated on a scale of 0 (none) to 3 (very much). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who had a response, defined as any reduction in N/V score. A complete response (CR) was defined as a score reduction to 0. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of patients with CR and adverse events.ResultsBetween April 2017 and March 2023, 212 patients were enrolled to receive treatment: 5 mg ASE (n = 34), 5 mg OLZ (n = 102), or 2.5 mg OLZ (n = 76). No significant differences in response rates (52.9% vs. 58.8% vs. 52.6%, p = 0.671) or secondary endpoints were observed between the groups. Patients receiving ASE were more likely to experience oral hypoesthesia (p = 0.004).ConclusionThis preliminary study suggests that ASE may be effective for N/V. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.