Journal of palliative medicine
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Diphenhydramine (DPH) is an over-the-counter antihistamine medication commonly used for symptom management in palliative care. Despite the ease of access and perceived safety of DPH, there is documented evidence of potential for abuse of this medication. ⋯ With careful selection of the antipsychotic agent loxapine, additional symptom management medications and scheduled tapering the patient was able to be discharged home for end-of-life care. We highlight the challenges of recognizing and managing a withdrawal syndrome in patients with terminal illnesses at end of life.
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In the past two decades, virtual reality (VR) technology has found use in a variety of clinical settings including pain management, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, and neurology. However, little is known about the utility of VR in the palliative care setting. Moreover, previous investigations have not explored user perceptions of the VR experience in this population. ⋯ Acute changes in symptom burden were assessed using the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Participants found the VR experience to be both enjoyable and useful, and the intervention was well-tolerated overall. This study provides support for VR as a promising new therapeutic modality for patients undergoing palliative care.