Putting Methylphenidate for Cancer-Related Fatigue to Rest?

Chin-Yee, Nicolas; Yennurajalingam, Sriram; Zimmermann, Camilla · J Clin Oncol · 2024

editorial · Level V

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Abstract

In the article that accompanies this editorial, Stone et al. present a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of individually dose-titrated methylphenidate for treatment of fatigue in patients with advanced cancer, finding that methylphenidate, while safe and well-tolerated, was no more effective than placebo at relieving fatigue after 6 (±2) weeks. Future studies should consider the multifaceted nature of cancer-related fatigue, as well as the substantial placebo effects of psychostimulants, and may benefit from focusing on methylphenidate in combination with non-pharmacological interventions, or for fatigue with a predominant emotional or cognitive component.

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