Serotonin syndrome after concomitant treatment with linezolid and meperidine.

Serotonin syndrome has been reported with administration of linezolid and serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Meperidine blocks the neuronal reuptake of serotonin. Serotonin syndrome after concomitant linezolid and meperidine therapy has not been described.

Valacyclovir versus acyclovir for HSV prophylaxisin neutropenic patients.

Background: It is common practice to administer acyclovir as prophylaxis to patients with hematologic malignancies during neutropenia; however, effective therapy requires frequent dosing, which is difficult in this setting. Valacyclovir has greater oral bioavailability and requires less frequent dosing.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of valacyclovir compared with acyclovir.

The role of salivary function in modulating chemotherapy-induced oropharyngeal mucositis: a review of the literature.

Oropharyngeal mucositis is a common and significant complication of cancer chemotherapy and limits the delivery of chemotherapy, affects the quality of life, and increases the cost of care. Oral mucositis caused by cancer chemotherapy is associated with specific agents, but the origin of oral mucositis is poorly understood. These drugs may have direct toxic effects on the rapidly dividing cells of the oral mucosa and on cellular elements of the connective tissue.