Isopropyl Alcohol Inhalation for Cancer-Related Nausea

Overseen By Yvonne J Heung

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Anti-emetics

Disqualifiers: Delirium, Allergy to isopropyl, others

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: Single session

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether inhaling isopropyl alcohol can reduce nausea in people with cancer. Participants will inhale either isopropyl alcohol or a placebo to determine which is more effective at easing nausea. Those with cancer who frequently experience moderate to severe nausea might be suitable for this study. Participants must be willing to try inhaling isopropyl alcohol and must not have used certain nausea medications or been exposed to isopropyl alcohol recently. As a Phase 2 trial, this research focuses on measuring the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to important findings.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot have received anti-nausea medications (anti-emetics) in the last 30 minutes before participating.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that inhaling isopropyl alcohol can quickly reduce nausea. In some studies, participants who inhaled it felt better faster than those who took standard nausea medication. However, strong evidence remains limited, and further research is needed.

Regarding safety, past patients have generally tolerated inhaling isopropyl alcohol well, with no major reports of serious side effects. Some individuals might experience minor nose irritation, though this is uncommon. As this trial is in an early stage, researchers are still gathering more safety information. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising for cancer-related nausea?

Most treatments for cancer-related nausea involve medications like antiemetics, which work by blocking certain neurotransmitters to reduce nausea and vomiting. However, isopropyl alcohol is unique because it uses a completely different mechanism: inhalation therapy. When inhaled, isopropyl alcohol provides rapid relief by stimulating the olfactory system, which may help distract the brain from nausea signals. This method could offer a quicker and more direct way to manage nausea, making it an exciting alternative for researchers and patients alike.

What evidence suggests that isopropyl alcohol inhalation could be effective for cancer-related nausea?

Research has shown that inhaling isopropyl alcohol can effectively reduce nausea. In this trial, participants in one arm will receive isopropyl alcohol via nasal inhalation. For instance, one study found that patients who inhaled isopropyl alcohol felt less nauseous just 10 minutes later compared to those who inhaled a placebo, a substance with no active ingredients. Another study showed that patients using isopropyl alcohol experienced a greater reduction in nausea than those taking common nausea medications like ondansetron. Although evidence remains limited, these findings suggest that inhaling isopropyl alcohol could be a promising way to manage nausea, especially for cancer patients. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Yvonne J. Heung

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for cancer patients experiencing nausea who are seeing a supportive care team. They must be feeling anxious but not delirious, have not used anti-nausea drugs or been exposed to isopropyl alcohol in the last half-hour, and can't have an allergy to isopropyl alcohol.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been referred to a supportive care service.

I have been diagnosed with cancer.

I agree to inhale isopropyl alcohol as part of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Received medical procedures (e.g. blood draws) which required exposure of isopropyl alcohol in the last 30 minutes

I cannot breathe through my nose.

I have never taken anti-nausea medication during my current treatment.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either isopropyl alcohol or placebo via nasal inhalation

Single session

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in nausea levels post-intervention

5 minutes

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Isopropyl Alcohol
• Placebo

Trial Overview Researchers are testing if sniffing isopropyl alcohol helps with nausea compared to a placebo (no active ingredient). Participants will also fill out questionnaires about their symptoms. The study aims to find better ways to manage nausea in cancer patients.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm I (isopropyl alcohol) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Patients receive isopropyl alcohol via nasal inhalation.

Group II: Arm II (placebo) Placebo Group 2 Interventions

Patients receive placebo via nasal inhalation.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Inhaled isopropyl alcohol (IPA) has been found to significantly reduce nausea in adults presenting to the emergency department, with a mean reduction of 2.18 on a 0-10 scale compared to placebo, indicating its potential efficacy as an antiemetic.

However, the evidence is considered moderate due to the small number of trials (only two included in the primary analysis with 195 patients), and further large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess its impact on vomiting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Isopropyl alcohol inhalation for the treatment of nausea in adult emergency department patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lee, SY., Tamale, JR.[2023]

The introduction of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for treating nausea in the emergency department significantly increased the percentage of patients receiving treatment from 66.0% to 97.1% and reduced the time to treatment initiation from 7 minutes to just 1 minute.

Using IPA led to a decrease in the use of conventional anti-emetics and reduced treatment costs from €1.33 to €0.67 per patient, indicating that IPA is a more efficient and cost-effective option for managing nausea in the ED.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) inhalation as the first-line treatment for nausea in the emergency department: practical advantages and influence on the quality of care. Veldhuis, P., Melse, M., Mullaart, N.[2021]

Inhalation of isopropyl alcohol has been observed as a practical and cost-effective method for treating postoperative nausea and vomiting, based on anecdotal evidence from recovery room practices.

The use of readily available alcohol preparation pads as a nursing intervention could provide an alternative to more expensive antiemetic medications, warranting further investigation into its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Isopropyl alcohol inhalation as treatment for nausea and vomiting. Spencer, KW.[2019]

Inhaled isopropyl alcohol (IPA) was evaluated in 13 randomized controlled trials involving 1253 participants for its effectiveness in managing nausea and vomiting, particularly in postoperative and emergency settings.

While some studies reported IPA as more effective than other treatments, the overall quality of evidence was low, and no adverse effects were noted, indicating a need for further research to confirm its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Inhalation of Isopropyl Alcohol for the Management of Nausea and Vomiting: A Systematic Review. Erdogan-Ongel, E., Heung, Y., Rozman de Moraes, A., et al.[2023]

In a study of 84 emergency department patients, nasal inhalation of isopropyl alcohol significantly reduced nausea compared to a placebo, with a median nausea score of 3 versus 6 at 10 minutes post-treatment.

Patients who inhaled isopropyl alcohol reported higher satisfaction levels (median score of 4) compared to those who received the placebo (median score of 2), indicating that isopropyl alcohol is not only effective in alleviating nausea but also improves patient satisfaction.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Isopropyl Alcohol Nasal Inhalation for Nausea in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Beadle, KL., Helbling, AR., Love, SL., et al.[2018]

In a study involving 91 children aged 6-16 undergoing surgery, inhaling isopropyl alcohol vapor significantly reduced nausea and vomiting severity in 65% of the treatment group compared to 26% in the control group, indicating its potential effectiveness as a treatment.

However, the relief was temporary, as 54% of the treatment group experienced recurrent nausea or vomiting shortly after, suggesting that while isopropyl alcohol may provide short-term relief, it may not be a long-lasting solution for postoperative nausea and vomiting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An alternative method to alleviate postoperative nausea and vomiting in children. Wang, SM., Hofstadter, MB., Kain, ZN.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10618376/

Isopropyl alcohol inhalation versus 5-HT3 antagonists for ... Our meta-analysis suggests that IPA inhalation could be considered as a novel, effective treatment for nausea across clinical settings. However, ...

2. jwatch.org jwatch.org/na46286/2018/03/09/inhaled-isopropyl-alcohol-superior-oral-ondansetron

Inhaled Isopropyl Alcohol Superior to Oral Ondansetron as ... Mean nausea scores decreased by 30 mm in the alcohol/ondansetron group, 32 mm in the alcohol/placebo group, and 9 mm in the saline/ondansetron ...

3. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jpm.2022.0332

Inhalation of Isopropyl Alcohol for the Management ... There is limited evidence to suggest that IPA is effective in the management of nausea and vomiting. Although IPA appears to be simple to use, noninvasive, and ...

4. cancer.gov cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/NCI-2019-07377

Nasal Inhalation of Isopropyl Alcohol for the Treatment ... This trial studies how well nasal inhalation of isopropyl alcohol works for the treatment of nausea in patients with cancer. Isopropyl alcohol may treat nausea ...

5. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/book/59499/chapter/501508142

Isopropyl Alcohol Nasal Inhalation for Nausea in the ... The intervention group had a lower median nausea score at 10 minutes compared to the placebo group (P < .01) and higher overall satisfaction.

6. bmjopenquality.bmj.com bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/14/2/e003189

Improving patient access to symptomatic treatment through ... Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) inhalation has been shown to improve nausea symptoms in a limited number of studies with small sample sizes. What this ...