1,740
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

The Risk of QTc Prolongation with Antiemetics in the Palliative Care Setting: A Narrative Review

ORCID Icon, , , &
Pages 125-135 | Received 23 Nov 2020, Accepted 03 Mar 2021, Published online: 11 May 2021

References

  • Stephenson J, Davies A. An assessment of aetiology-based guidelines for the management of nausea and vomiting in patients with advanced cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2006;14(4):348–353. doi:10.1007/s00520-005-0897-1.
  • Wood GJ, Shega JW, Lynch B, Von Roenn JH. Management of intractable nausea and vomiting in patients at the end of life: “I was feeling nauseous all of the time . . . nothing was working”. JAMA. 2007;298(10):1196–1207. doi:10.1001/jama.298.10.1196.
  • Razvi Y, Chan S, McFarlane T, McKenzie E, Zaki P, DeAngelis C, Pidduck W, Bushehri A, Chow E, Jerzak KJ. ASCO, NCCN, MASCC/ESMO: a comparison of antiemetic guidelines for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adult patients. Support Care Cancer. 2019;27(1):87–95. doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4464-y.
  • Li M, Ramos LG. Drug-induced QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. Heart. 2017;42(7):473–477.
  • van Noord C, Eijgelsheim M, Stricker BH. Drug- and non-drug-associated QT interval prolongation. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2010;70(1):16–23. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2010.03660.x.
  • Glare P, Miller J, Nikolova T, Tickoo R. Treating nausea and vomiting in palliative care: a review. Clin Interv Aging. 2011;6:243–259. doi:10.2147/CIA.S13109.
  • Flake ZA, Scalley RD, Bailey AG. Practical selection of antiemetics. Am Fam Physician. 2004;69(5):1169–1174.
  • Yates BJ, Catanzaro MF, Miller DJ, McCall AA. Integration of vestibular and emetic gastrointestinal signals that produce nausea and vomiting: potential contributions to motion sickness. Exp Brain Res. 2014;232(8):2455–2469. doi:10.1007/s00221-014-3937-6.
  • Barnes NM, Hales TG, Lummis SC, Peters JA. The 5-HT3 receptor-the relationship between structure and function. Neuropharmacology. 2009;56(1):273–284. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.08.003.
  • Mason JW, Moon TE. Use and cardiovascular safety of transdermal and other granisetron preparations in cancer management. Cancer Manag Res. 2013;5:179–185. doi:10.2147/CMAR.S34352.
  • Tricco AC, Blondal E, Veroniki AA, Soobiah C, Vafaei A, Ivory J, Strifler L, Cardoso R, Reynen E, Nincic V, et al. Comparative safety and effectiveness of serotonin receptor antagonists in patients undergoing chemotherapy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMC Med. 2016;14(1):216. doi:10.1186/s12916-016-0761-9.
  • Zuo P, Haberer LJ, Fang L, Hunt TL, Ridgway D, Russo MW. Integration of modeling and simulation to support changes to ondansetron dosing following a randomized, double-blind, placebo-, and active-controlled thorough QT study. J Clin Pharmacol. 2014;54(11):1221–1229. doi:10.1002/jcph.322.
  • FDA Drug safety communication: updated information on 32mg intravenous ondansetron (Zofran) dose and pre-mixed ondansetron products. Food and Drug Administration Web Site. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-updated-information-32-mg-intravenous-ondansetron-zofran-dose-and-pre. Published March, 7 2016. Accessed August 31, 2020.
  • Gupta SD, Pal R, Sarkar A, Mukherjee S, Mitra K, Roy S, Sarbapalli D, Kundu KK, Zaman FA, Kar S. Evaluation of Ondansetron-induced QT interval prolongation in the prophylaxis of postoperative emesis. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2011;2(1):119–124. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.82306.
  • FDA Drug Safety Communication: Abnormal heart rhythms associated with use of Anzemet (dolasetron mesylate). Food and Drug Administration Web Site. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-abnormal-heart-rhythms-associated-use-anzemet-dolasetron-mesylate. Published online August 3, 2017. Accessed August 31, 2020.
  • Benedict CR, Arbogast R, Martin L, Patton L, Morrill B, Hahne W. Single-blind study of the effects of intravenous dolasetron mesylate versus ondansetron on electrocardiographic parameters in normal volunteers. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1996;28(1):53–59. doi:10.1097/00005344-199607000-00009.
  • Mason JW, Selness DS, Moon TE, O'Mahony B, Donachie P, Howell J. Pharmacokinetics and repolarization effects of intravenous and transdermal granisetron. Clin Cancer Res. 2012;18(10):2913–2921. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2785.
  • Mason JW, Moon TE, O'Boyle E, Dietz A. A randomized, placebo-controlled, four-period crossover, definitive QT study of the effects of APF530 exposure, high-dose intravenous granisetron, and moxifloxacin on QTc prolongation. Cancer Manag Res. 2014;6:181–190. doi:10.2147/CMAR.S58071.
  • Morganroth J, Flaharty KK, Parisi S, Moresino C. Effect of single doses of IV palonosetron, up to 2.25 mg, on the QTc interval duration: a double-blind, randomized, parallel group study in healthy volunteers. Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(2):621–627. doi:10.1007/s00520-015-2822-6.
  • Saffar A, Lennernäs H, Hellström PM. Gastroparesis, metoclopramide, and tardive dyskinesia: Risk revisited. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2019;31(11):e13617. doi:10.1111/nmo.13617.
  • Roila F, Molassiotis A, Herrstedt J, Aapro M, Gralla RJ, Bruera E, Clark-Snow RA, Dupuis LL, Einhorn LH, Feyer P, et al. 2016 MASCC and ESMO guideline update for the prevention of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and of nausea and vomiting in advanced cancer patients. Ann Oncol. 2016;27(suppl 5):v119–v133. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdw270.
  • Fujiki A, Sakabe M. Differences in the slope of the QT-RR relation based on 24-hour holter ECG recordings between cardioembolic and atherosclerotic stroke. Intern Med. 2016;55(20):2927–2932. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.55.6702.
  • Ellidokuz E, Kaya D. The effect of metoclopramide on QT dynamicity: double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study in healthy male volunteers. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003;18(1):151–155. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2036.2003.01641.x.
  • Siddique SM, Shariff N, Vesuwala N, Hafiz T. Metoclopramide as a possible cause of prolonged QT syndrome and torsade de pointes in a patient with heart failure and renal insufficiency. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150(7):502–504. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-150-7-200904070-00016.
  • Chou CC, Wu D. Torsade de pointes induced by metoclopramide in an elderly woman with preexisting complete left bundle branch block. Chang Gung Med J. 2001;24(12):805–809.
  • McLean SL, Blenkinsopp A, Bennett MI. Using haloperidol as an antiemetic in palliative care: informing practice through evidence from cancer treatment and postoperative contexts. J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2013;27(2):132–135. doi:10.3109/15360288.2013.782937.
  • Kamali A, Ahmadi L, Shokrpour M, Pazuki S. Investigation of ondansetron, haloperidol, and dexmedetomidine efficacy for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients with abdominal hysterectomy. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(9):1659–1663. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.366.
  • Hardy JR, O'Shea A, White C, Gilshenan K, Welch L, Douglas C. The efficacy of haloperidol in the management of nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2010;40(1):111–116. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.11.321.
  • Thomas D, Karle CA, Kiehn J. The cardiac hERG/IKr potassium channel as pharmacological target: structure, function, regulation, and clinical applications. Curr Pharm Des. 2006;12(18):2271–2283. doi:10.2174/138161206777585102.
  • Beach SR, Celano CM, Noseworthy PA, Januzzi JL, Huffman JC. QTc prolongation, torsades de pointes, and psychotropic medications. Psychosomatics. 2013 Jan-Feb;54(1):1–13. doi:10.1016/j.psym.2012.11.001.
  • Duprey MS, Al-Qadheeb N, Roberts R, Skrobik Y, Schumaker G, Devlin JW. The use of low-dose IV haloperidol is not associated with QTc prolongation: post hoc analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Intensive Care Med. 2016;42(11):1818–1819. doi:10.1007/s00134-016-4512-3.
  • Page VJ, Ely EW, Gates S, Zhao XB, Alce T, Shintani A, Jackson J, Perkins GD, McAuley DF. Effect of intravenous haloperidol on the duration of delirium and coma in critically ill patients (Hope-ICU): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Respir Med. 2013;1(7):515–523. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(13)70166-8.
  • Desai M, Li L, Desta Z, Malik M, Flockhart D. Variability of heart rate correction methods for the QT interval. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003;55(6):511–517. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2125.2003.01791.x.
  • Sutherland A, Naessens K, Plugge E, Ware L, Head K, Burton MJ, Wee B. Olanzapine for the prevention and treatment of cancer-related nausea and vomiting in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;9(9):CD012555. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012555.pub2.
  • Ettinger DS, Berger MJ, Barbour S, et al. Antiemesis. NCCN guidelines; 2020. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/antiemesis.pdf.
  • Olanzapine (package insert). Acetris Health, LLC, Saddle Brook, NJ; September 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=13591d0b-0d4a-4bb4-bf49-d54ba5ca1759. Accessed August 31, 2020.
  • Brafford MV, Glode A. Olanzapine: an antiemetic option for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. J Adv Pract Oncol. 2014;5(1):24–29. doi:10.6004/jadpro.2014.5.1.8.
  • Qadri SF, Padala PR, Strunk JC, Boust SJ. High-dose olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets for treatment-resistant psychosis. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2006;8(4):244–245. doi:10.4088/pcc.v08n0410a.
  • Stroup TS, Gray N. Management of common adverse effects of antipsychotic medications. World Psychiatry. 2018;17(3):341–356. doi:10.1002/wps.20567.
  • Suzuki Y, Ono S, Sugai T, Fukui N, Watanabe J, Tsuneyama N, Sawamura K, Someya T. Dose-dependent effects of olanzapine on QT intervals and plasma prolactin levels in Japanese patients with stable schizophrenia. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2011;26(6):440–443. doi:10.1002/hup.1218.
  • Suzuki Y, Sugai T, Ono S, Sawamura K, Fukui N, Watanabe J, Tsuneyama N, Saito M, Someya T. Changes in PR and QTc intervals after switching from olanzapine to risperidone in patients with stable schizophrenia. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2014;68(5):353–356. doi:10.1111/pcn.12136.
  • Harrigan EP, Miceli JJ, Anziano R, Watsky E, Reeves KR, Cutler NR, Sramek J, Shiovitz T, Middle M. A randomized evaluation of the effects of six antipsychotic agents on QTc, in the absence and presence of metabolic inhibition. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2004;24(1):62–69. doi:10.1097/01.jcp.0000104913.75206.62.
  • Gurovich I, Vempaty A, Lippmann S. QTc prolongation: chlorpromazine and high-dosage olanzapine. Can J Psychiatry. 2003;48(5):348. doi:10.1177/070674370304800513.
  • Ozeki Y, Fujii K, Kurimoto N, Yamada N, Okawa M, Aoki T, Takahashi J, Ishida N, Horie M, Kunugi H. QTc prolongation and antipsychotic medications in a sample of 1017 patients with schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2010;34(2):401–405. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.01.008.
  • Vieweg WV. New generation antipsychotic drugs and QTc interval prolongation. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;5(5):205–215. doi:10.4088/pcc.v05n0504.
  • Jackson CW, Sheehan AH, Reddan JG. Evidence-based review of the black-box warning for droperidol. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2007;64(11):1174–1186. doi:10.2146/ajhp060505.
  • Athavale A, Athavale T, Roberts DM. Antiemetic drugs: what to prescribe and when. Aust Prescr. 2020;43(2):49–56. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2020.011.
  • Cole JB, Lee SC, Martel ML, Smith SW, Biros MH, Miner JR. The incidence of QT prolongation and torsades des pointes in patients receiving droperidol in an urban emergency department. West J Emerg Med. 2020;21(4):728–736. doi:10.5811/westjem.2020.4.47036.
  • Calver L, Isbister GK. High dose droperidol and QT prolongation: analysis of continuous 12-lead recordings. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2014 May;77(5):880–886. doi:10.1111/bcp.12272.
  • Lischke V, Behne M, Doelken P, Schledt U, Probst S, Vettermann J. Droperidol causes a dose-dependent prolongation of the QT interval. Anesth Analg. 1994;79(5):983–986. doi:10.1213/00000539-199411000-00028.
  • Charbit B, Albaladejo P, Funck-Brentano C, Legrand M, Samain E, Marty J. Prolongation of QTc interval after postoperative nausea and vomiting treatment by droperidol or ondansetron. Anesthesiology. 2005;102(6):1094–1100. doi:10.1097/00000542-200506000-00006.
  • Smith HS, Cox LR, Smith BR. Dopamine receptor antagonists. Ann Palliat Med. 2012;1(2):137–142. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2224-5820.2012.07.09.
  • Correll CU, Harris J, Figen V, Kane JM, Manu P. Antipsychotic drug administration does not correlate with prolonged rate-corrected QT interval in children and adolescents: results from a nested case-control study. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2011;21(4):365–368. doi:10.1089/cap.2011.0024.
  • Hauser RA, Isaacson S, Clinch T. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of trimethobenzamide to control nausea and vomiting during initiation and continued treatment with subcutaneous apomorphine injection. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2014;20(11):1171–1176. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2014.08.010.
  • Lee BH, Lee SH, Chu D, Hyun JW, Choe H, Choi BH, Jo SH. Effects of the histamine H(1) receptor antagonist hydroxyzine on hERG K(+) channels and cardiac action potential duration. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2011;32(9):1128–1137. doi:10.1038/aps.2011.66.
  • Owczuk R, Twardowski P, Dylczyk-Sommer A, Wujtewicz MA, Sawicka W, Drogoszewska B, Wujtewicz M. Influence of promethazine on cardiac repolarisation: a double-blind, midazolam-controlled study. Anaesthesia. 2009;64(6):609–614. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2044.2009.05890.x.
  • Nolen A, Dai T. Diphenhydramine use disorder and complicated withdrawal in a palliative care patient. J Palliat Med. 2020;23(9):1279–1282. doi:10.1089/jpm.2019.0308.
  • Shah A, Yousuf T, Ziffra J, Zaidi A, Raghuvir R. Diphenhydramine and QT prolongation - a rare cardiac side effect of a drug used in common practice. J Cardiol Cases. 2015;12(4):126–129. doi:10.1016/j.jccase.2015.06.002.
  • Thakur AC, Aslam AK, Aslam AF, Vasavada BC, Sacchi TJ, Khan IA. QT interval prolongation in diphenhydramine toxicity. Int J Cardiol. 2005;98(2):341–343. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2003.10.051.
  • Schlit AF, Delaunois A, Colomar A, Claudio B, Cariolato L, Boev R, Valentin JP, Peters C, Sloan VS, Bentz JWG. Risk of QT prolongation and torsade de pointes associated with exposure to hydroxyzine: re-evaluation of an established drug. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2017;5(3):e00309. doi:10.1002/prp2.309.
  • Spiller JA, Fallon M. The use of Scopoderm in palliative care. Hosp Med. 2000;61(11):782–784. doi:10.12968/hosp.2000.61.11.1464.
  • Parker LA, Rock EM, Limebeer CL. Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids. Br J Pharmacol. 2011;163(7):1411–1422. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01176.x.
  • Yun J, Yoon KS, Lee TH, Lee H, Gu SM, Song YJ, Cha HJ, Han KM, Seo H, Shin J, et al. Synthetic cannabinoid, JWH-030, induces QT prolongation through hERG channel inhibition. Toxicol Res (Camb)). 2016;5(6):1663–1671. doi:10.1039/c6tx00259e.
  • Machado Rocha FC, Stéfano SC, De Cássia Haiek R, Rosa Oliveira LM, Da Silveira DX. Therapeutic use of Cannabis sativa on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl)). 2008;17(5):431–443. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2008.00917.x.
  • Desai R, Patel U, Deshmukh A, Sachdeva R, Kumar G. Burden of arrhythmia in recreational marijuana users. Int J Cardiol. 2018;264:91–92. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.03.113.
  • Bui QM, Simpson S, Nordstrom K. Psychiatric and medical management of marijuana intoxication in the emergency department. West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(3):414–417. doi:10.5811/westjem.2015.3.25284.
  • Rhodes VA, McDaniel RW. Nausea, vomiting, and retching: complex problems in palliative care. CA Cancer J Clin. 2001;51(4):232–248. quiz 249-52. doi:10.3322/canjclin.51.4.232.
  • Van Fleet S. Relaxation and imagery for symptom management: improving patient assessment and individualizing treatment. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2000;27(3):501–510.
  • Bayuk L. Relaxation techniques: an adjunct therapy for cancer patients. Semin Oncol Nurs. 1985;1(2):147–150. doi:10.1016/S0749-2081(85)80049-8.
  • Ahles TA, Tope DM, Pinkson B, Walch S, Hann D, Whedon M, Dain B, Weiss JE, Mills L, Silberfarb PM. Massage therapy for patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation. J Pain Symptom Manage. 1999;18(3):157–163. doi:10.1016/S0885-3924(99)00061-5.
  • Hines S, Steels E, Chang A, Gibbons K. Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018; 3(3):CD007598. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007598.pub3.
  • Wu X, Chung VC, Hui EP, Ziea ET, Ng BF, Ho RS, Tsoi KK, Wong SY, Wu JC. Effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for palliative care of cancer: overview of systematic reviews. Sci Rep. 2015;5:16776. doi:10.1038/srep16776.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.