Adverse Reaction Due to Medication in Palliative Care -The Role of Pharmacists-

Abstract

Many drugs have adverse reaction, especially in palliative medicine due to pharmacological changes induced in advanced cancer patients caused by such situation as decreased renal function. In particular, patients with terminal illness often have so many symptoms that it is difficult to identify the cause of each of them. Patients with advanced cancer experience nausea, vomiting, and delirium in addition to pain. Nausea and vomiting are caused by hypercalcemia, intracranial hypertension, constipation, digestive organ confinement and medicines characteristics such as opioids or the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). The strategy for nausea and vomiting varies with the cause. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully analyze the causes. Drug information is the one of the important roles of pharmacists in palliative care. This report describes how, as a pharmacist, investigate causes and the strategies to be used for nausea/vomiting, delirium, and anxiety.