Dexamethasone Additive to IV Chemotherapy

Dexamethasone added to oxaliplatin for intravenous infusion was tested for its effect on venous pain from chemotherapy infusions. In one study, it was hypothesized that the addition of dexamethasone would adjust the pH of an oxaliplatin infusion, reducing venous pain and other complications with peripheral vein infusion (Hata et al., 2015).

Hata, T., Honda, M., Kobayashi, M., Toyokawa, A., Tsuda, M., Tokunaga, Y., . . . Mishima, H. (2015). Effect of pH adjustment by mixing steroid for venous pain in colorectal cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin through peripheral vein: A multicenter randomized phase II study (APOLLO). Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 76, 1209–1215. doi:10.1007/s00280-015-2888-3

Guideline / Expert Opinion