Clinical journal of oncology nursing
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This article reviews a new class of antiemetic agents, the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonists (RAs). Clinical trials of an NK-1 RA, aprepitant, are ongoing.
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Mistletoe generally is categorized as American mistletoe or European mistletoe. Despite its well-known potential for toxicity, mistletoe continues to be used as an herbal remedy and recently has received a great deal of media attention. The U. ⋯ Food and Drug Administration classified mistletoe as a food additive that cannot be marketed unless proven safe for consumption (DerMarderosian, 1992). Several components of the plant have been found to possess antineoplastic activity and warrant further investigation for their clinical potential. At this time, however, mistletoe as a single-agent therapy has not been scientifically validated in the treatment of breast cancer.
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Ongoing diligent patient assessment is the most important step in the equianalgesic conversion process. The conversion must take into account individual patient characteristics such as age, renal function, side effects, and the patient's pain syndrome. In addition, if the opioid dose is not adequate to begin with, the conversion dose is less likely to be effective. ⋯ Nurses play a major role in the assessment of patients receiving opioids for pain management. Inadequate pain management despite escalating doses, untoward side effects, loss of a route of administration, and sometimes cost and reimbursement issues necessitate an opioid conversion or rotation. Nurses also play a role in recommending the change and ensuring that patients receive the correct dose.