Treatment of Radiation Sickness with Pyridoxine Hydrochloride in Outpatients of a Radiotherapy Unit

Abstract

We think that the practical conclusion should be that treatment of radiation sickness with 1 or 2 mg. of pyridoxine hydrochloride orally t.d.s. by radiotherapists who are convinced of its efficacy gives very good results. Whether the effect of this low dose would differ from a placebo remains to be seen. The effect of the treatment of radiation sickness with pyridoxine hydrochloride was studied in outpatients of a radiotherapy unit. No significant difference between a very low (1 mg. t.d.s.) and a high dose (50 mg. t.d.s.) was detected. When, in case of failure of these doses, the daily dose was raised to 2 mg. t.d.s. and 100 mg. t.d.s., only a few patients in either group had to be treated with more potent drugs. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.