Objectives Have a better understanding of how physical and mental factors affect symptomatology Be able to use this understanding in the treatment of patients suffering from nausea/vomiting and dyspnea Incorporate skills and knowledge gained into your practice and teaching By the end of this module you will

Non-Pain Symptom Management James Hallenbeck, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine Director, Palliative Care Services, VA Palo Alto HCS

Definition of a Symptom “A physical or mental phenomenon, circumstance or change of condition arising from accompanying a disorder and constituting evidence for it… specifically a subjective indicator perceptible to the patient and as opposed to an objective one (compare with sign).” The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, cited by The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine Symptoms as clues, not experiences, not suffering

From the Patient’s Perspective- a Symptom Is What Is Bothersome

Disease As a Clue for the Symptom Disease process Symptom Questions to ask… How does the disease give rise to the symptom through local, central effects? What are emotional, cognitive and spiritual components of the patient’s illness?

What Symptoms? Constipation Diarrhea Peripheral Edema Nausea, vomiting Pruritus/itching Dyspnea Anxiety Anorexia Sleep disorders Cough Akathisia Dysphagia Anhedonia Death rattle/secretions Drooling Urinary Incontinence Rectal Incontinence Hiccups Flatulence Muscle spasms Confusion Memory Loss Visual problems Hearing loss Dysgeusia Colic Sexual dysfunction Polyuria Polydipsia Dizziness Dyspepsia Xerostomia Dry skin Dysarthria Dysphoria Dysuria Failure to thrive Fatigue Fear Fever Crying Hallucinations Halitosis Impotence Irritability Taste alterations Odor Mucositis Panic attacks Photosensitivity Restlessness Stomatitis Urinary frequency N=53, Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine: Index, 1998.

So WHY do we have this disgusting problem?

Consider our Hungry Ancestors… What protects this guy from eating something poisonous?

Pearl for the Day…

Receptor Affinity Common Antiemetics The lower the number,the stronger this agent is at blocking this receptor Drug Dopamine 2 Musc. Chol. Histamine Scopolamine >10, >10,000 Promethazine Prochlorperazine Chlorpromazine Metoclopramide 270 >10,000 1,000 Haloperidol 4.2 >10,000 1,600 Adapted from Perourka, Snyder

Causes of Nausea and Vomiting Vestibular Obstruction (Opioids) Mind (Dysmotility) Infection (irritation) Toxins (taste and other senses)

V Vestibular Apparatus Complaint of nausea with head movement Mediated by acetylcholine and histamine receptors DOC(s): – Promethazine (supp) – Scopolomine (patch, injection) – Cyclizine (oral, injection) Most anticholinergic, antihistminic drugs will help!

O Obstruction Most common cause: constipation May be caused by external or internal obstruction – In advanced malignant bowel obstruction external compression most common May be mediated through both mechano and chemoreceptors Doc(s) – True bowel obstruction Controversy as to best drugs – Constipation- anti-constipation meds

M Mind Mediates emotional, cognitive aspects of nausea- anxiety, memory, meaning Can be very powerful Manipulating taste and other senses often helpful Doc(s): – Lorazapam (poor solo agent) – Appetite stimulants Megestrol, steroids, Cannibinoids

M DysMotility Multiple causes – Opioids – Anticholinergic drugs – Stomach/bowel compression, infiltration Upper intestinal dysmotility-very common, under appreciated Doc(s): Prokinetics: – Metoclopramide (upper only) – Cisapride (upper and lower gut) – Senna (lower only)

I Infection/Irritation Mediated through chemoreceptors- acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin Gut and adjacent organ inflammation can trigger DOC(s): Anticholinergic/antihistaminic agents, such as promethazine

T Toxins Most important- drugs we give Various mechanisms of inducing nausea – Local irritant NSAIDs – Changing blood levels (via CTZ) opioids, ? SSRIs – Toxic blood levels digoxin Doc(s): depends on mechanism of action

Opioid Related Nausea Gut effect: Dysmotility of upper and lower gut – Doc(s): prokinetics Effect on CTZ – Mediated through D2 receptor – Related to changing blood levels – Improves with steady state blood level – Doc(s): Haloperidol (po, inj.), Prochlorperizine (supp, po) Via two mechanisms: No good evidence, rationale for using promethazine

5HT3 Antagonists Useful for certain forms of chemotherapy related nausea May have other special uses: – In CTZ related nausea, where dopamine blockade contraindicated – ? Other refractory CTZ related causes – ? In certain GI cases Very expensive currently

Dyspnea Common- 70% of dying patients in last six weeks of life Traditional care for dyspnea largely palliative, as not curative – Focuses on lung physiology – Less attention to central processes Pathophysiology of dyspnea poorly understood

Treating Dyspnea Local – Low-dose opioids – Fan, cool breeze Central – Low-dose opioids Benzodiazepines for anxiety Address emotional, cognitive, spiritual factors In addition to what you already know…

SUMMARY Symptoms matter in their own right as expressions of patient suffering Symptoms have their own “pathophysiology,” As is true for treatment of disease, treatment of symptoms is tailored to this underlying physiology