Pilot Study Comparing Treatment With Dexmedetomidine to Midazolam for Symptom Control in Advanced Cancer Patients

"Study drugs will be administered by continuous subcutaneous infusion using a weight based protocol at a rate between 1.0 to 5.5 mL/hr.~* The study drug will be started at a rate of 1.0 mL/hr.~* The infusion rate is incremented by 0.5 ml/hr every 30 minutes until acceptable symptom control, bradycardia (heart rate \< 40) or hypotension (systolic blood pressure \< 80) prevent further increase or maximum infusion rate of 5.5 ml/hr, whichever comes first. Achievement of acceptable symptom control will be defined, for purposes of this trial, as a consensus between reports from patient, family care giver and attending registered nurse"

"Study drugs will be administered by continuous subcutaneous infusion using a weight based protocol at a rate between 1.0 to 5.5 mL/hr.~* The study drug will be started at a rate of 1.0 mL/hr.~* The infusion rate is incremented by 0.5 ml/hr every 30 minutes until acceptable symptom control, bradycardia (heart rate \< 40) or hypotension (systolic blood pressure \< 80) prevent further increase or maximum infusion rate of 5.5 ml/hr, whichever comes first. Achievement of acceptable symptom control will be defined, for purposes of this trial, as a consensus between reports from patient, family care giver and attending registered nurse"