methylcellulose and Nausea

MK 458 is a potent and selective D2 receptor agonist. MK 458 consists of (+)-4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine (PHNO) in a hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose-lactose matrix. MK 458, mean dose 8.1 mg (range 2.5 to 13.5 mg), was administered to 14 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) who were no longer satisfactorily responding to levodopa. The duration of the study was 4 weeks with a titration to maximum dose in 2 weeks. The addition of MK 458 resulted in a mean reduction in levodopa of 41% (range 0 to 81%). This degree of levodopa reduction was not seen in previous studies with other DA agonists. While the reduction in signs of PD was comparable to those on levodopa, MK 458 did not induce dyskinesias or dystonias. It is postulated that MK 458 may be able to replace levodopa as the primary treatment for PD.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antiparkinson Agents; Carbidopa; Dopamine Agents; Female; Humans; Hypromellose Derivatives; Lactose; Levodopa; Lisuride; Methylcellulose; Middle Aged; Nausea; Oxazines; Parkinson Disease; Pergolide; Psychomotor Performance; Receptors, Dopamine

Twenty-five patients with metastatic carcinoma were entered into a Phase I clinical trial using poly(I,C)-LC at either 1 mg/m2 or 4 mg/m2 intravenous, twice weekly, for 4 weeks. None of the 15 patients entered at the 1 mg/m2 dose had an objective response; three had progressive disease. Similarly, no objective responses were observed among the 10 patients treated at the 4 mg/m2 dose of poly(I,C)-LC; one patient was removed from the study due to progressive disease. Toxicities observed at the 1 mg/m2 dose were mild hypotension, fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and headache. The first patient treated at the 4 mg/m2 dose was taken off of the study for severe hypotension. In the subsequent nine patients treated at this dose, a pretreatment with one dose at 1 mg/m2 was given, and no further problems with hypotension were encountered. The other toxicities at 4 mg/m2 were similar to those seen at 1 mg/m2.

Topics: Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Drug Evaluation; Fever; Humans; Hypotension; Interferons; Kinetics; Methylcellulose; Nausea; Neoplasms; Poly I-C; Polylysine