[Usage of gastric antisecretory drugs in palliative care of lung cancer patients].

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAID)and steroids are important drugs that are the most frequently prescribed medications for the relief of cancer pain. However, there is overwhelming evidence that these drugs cause various forms of gastric mucosal injury. Based on clinical experience, gastric antisecretory drugs such as the proton pump inhibitor(PPI)and the histamine-H2 receptor antagonist(H2RA)are widely used to avoid the gastrointestinal problems caused by NSAID and steroids.

[Preparation of standard protocol for cancer pain control and evaluation of its clinical effectiveness].

In order to promote the appropriate control of cancer pain by opioids, we distributed a pocket-sized protocol pamphlet on cancer pain control and opioid prescription to the medical staff of Nagoya University Hospital. In this study, we examined whether the prescription rate of opioids for rescue use, antiemetics for preventing adverse effects, and the rate of increase of regular opioid dosage were increased after distribution to evaluate its utility. Rescue opioid prescriptions, increase of regular opioid dosage and antiemetic prescription rate after distribution were all significantly increased, compared with before distribution.