2019 Volume 45 Issue 4 Pages 208-213
Many anticancer drugs have adverse effects such as hypersensitivity and allergic reaction. However, of these, the platinum line of anticancer drugs is associated with a comparatively high frequency of onset, and caution is required when monitoring serious anaphylactic symptoms. Oxaliplatin (L-OHP), a standard treatment drug for colon cancer, is known to be associated with hypersensitivity, and continuation of treatment may become difficult. As such, diphenhydramine prophylactic treatment was attempted to prevent hypersensitivity reactions to L-OHP. A decrease in incidence was observed with no serious hypersensitivity reactions occurring in the prophylactic treatment group. In addition, a pharmacoeconomic examination revealed a decrease in the calculated cost per treatment in the prophylactic treatment group, thus showing pharmacoeconomic efficacy. This suggests that diphenhydramine prophylactic treatment to prevent hypersensitivity reaction to L-OHP is highly cost effective and contributes to safe chemotherapy treatment.
