Buspirone in Reducing Shortness of Breath in Patients With Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Diagnosis of cancer
• •Treatment includes the following scenarios:
• •* May have had prior chemotherapy course(s)
• •* Scheduled to receive at least 2 courses of chemotherapy
• •* Courses may include multiple treatment days such as days 1-5 or day 1-day 8 regimens and may include oral regimens
• •Dyspnea as a symptom within the past 5 days (defined by a score of at least grade 2 on the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale)
• •* All underlying causes of dyspnea have received medical treatment per best clinical judgement of treating physician
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age
• •18 and over
• •Performance status
• •Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0-2
• •Life expectancy
• •Not specified
• •Hematopoietic
• •Not specified
• •Hepatic
• •Adequate hepatic function (determined by treating oncologist)
• •Renal
• •Adequate renal function (determined by treating oncologist)
• •Cardiovascular
• •Adequate cardiac function (determined by treating oncologist)
• •Other
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No history of mania or seizures
• •No prior hospitalization for any psychiatric condition
• •No prior hypersensitivity to buspirone
• •Able to swallow medication
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy
• •Not specified
• •Chemotherapy
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Endocrine therapy
• •Not specified
• •Radiotherapy
• •Concurrent radiotherapy allowed
• •Surgery
• •Not specified
• •Other
• •At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• •Concurrent narcotic medications allowed
• •Concurrent benzodiazepine medications allowed
• •Concurrent serotonin reuptake inhibitors allowed
• •No concurrent alcohol