Current
Opinion in Supportive & Palliative Care, December 2014, vol./is.
8/4(346-51)
Yennurajalingam
S, Bruera E
This review summarizes recent literature on the
impact of corticosteroids on fatigue, its related symptoms, and the role of
'corticosteroid rotation' in improving the corticosteroid-related side-effects. The two recently published artilces found confirm the short-term benefits for the symptomatic treatment of cancer-related fatigue and anorexia cachexia in advanced incurable cancer. Long-term use of corticosteroids is not recommended at this time because of the
risk of debilitating side-effects and no evidence of its long-term benefits.
Recent studies also suggest the possible role of corticosteroid rotation or
switching similar to opioid rotation for improvement of these
side-effects.
Full text available in Current Opinion in Supportive
and Palliative Care