Objective: To investigate the efficacy of nebulised morphine for dyspnoea in a controlled trial involving eight terminally ill patients. Method: Over three consecutive days, patients received treatment for one day with four nebulised doses of either sodium chloride 0.9%, morphine 2.5 mg or morphine 5 mg. Both subjective severity of dyspnoea and respiratory function were monitored with each treatment. Results: Analysis of variance indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in the subjective symptoms of dyspnoea and respiratory function between individual patients. However, there was no evidence of any beneficial effects of nebulised morphine or saline in these patients, who were all receiving regular morphine by either the oral or subcutaneous route. Conclusion: This small trial suggests that there would be limited value in adding nebulised morphine, at the dosage studied, to oral or subcutaneous therapy in palliative care patients with dyspnoea.
History
Publication title
Australian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
Volume
26
Issue
5
Pagination
545-547
ISSN
0310-6810
Department/School
School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Publisher
Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
Place of publication
Australia
Rights statement
Copyrights 1999 Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia