Effect of Shakuyakukanzoto on Chemotherapy-Induced Hiccups in Patients with Lung Cancer

Abstract

Objective: Shakuyakukanzoto, one of the traditional herbal medicines commonly used in North-East Asiancountries, is known to be effective for muscle cramps. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effectof shakuyakukanzoto on chemotherapy-induced metoclopramide-uncontrolled hiccups.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of all the consecutive patientswith lung cancer who were prescribed with shakuyakukanzoto (Tsumura Co. Tokyo, Japan) for chemotherapy-induced hiccups in our hospital from September 2013 to November 2017. In the medical record fromthe initiation of shakuyakukanzoto until the start of the next chemotherapy, when there was description of“complete or partial disappearance of hiccups” after the prescription of shakuyakukanzoto, it was judged as acomplete or partial response. A statement of “unchanged,” no description of improvement, or exacerbationwas judged as no change.Results: Of the 49 chemotherapy courses in 15 patients with lung cancer, 93.9% had a “partial or complete”response within a few hours after the administration of shakuyakukanzoto. The effect of shakuyakukanzotowas observed irrespective of the pathological type of lung cancer, platinum-containing or non-platinum chemotherapy, and with or without other anti-hiccup drugs. No adverse event was observed.Conclusion: Shakuyakukanzoto may offer an effective pharmacological approach to treat chemotherapyinduced metoclopramide-uncontrolled hiccups. Well-planned prospective studies will confirm our results.