"Red Morphine Drops" for Symptomatic Treatment of Dyspnoea in Lung Cancer

Sankt Lukas Hospice

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Lung Neoplasms; Dyspnea

Treatments: Drug: Morphine s.c.; Drug: Morphine p.o.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00338481

2005-060-version1a

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test whether "red morphine drops" applied in the mouth are superior to an equivalent amount of morphine applied as subcutaneous injection for the relief of breathlessness in terminal patients suffering from primary lung cancer or lung metastases.

Full description

Breathlessness or dyspnea in terminal cancer patients with lung cancer is common and opioids such as morphine is the mainstay of symptomatic treatment. Subcutaneous administration of morphine provides fast symptomatic relief, but it has been the impression in our institution that "red morphine drops" applied orally may have equal or better efficacy and faster onset time.

Comparison: Patients with lung cancer or lung metastases with moderate to severe dyspnea at rest are treated with either orally applied "red morphine drops" or an equivalent amount of morphine applied subcutaneously.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Primary lung cancer or lung metastases and
• Moderate to severe dyspnea at rest (VAS equal to or more than 30)

Exclusion criteria

• Causal treatment of dyspnea possible and indicated
• Not receiving opioids on a regular basis
• Methadone treatment
• Intolerance to morphine
• Without understanding of patient information
• Depressed consciousness
• Oxygen treatment, if changed with-in 20 min before start
• Short-acting opioids with-in 4 h before start
• Inhalation therapy for bronchodilation with-in 20 min before start

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Drug: Morphine p.o.

2

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Drug: Morphine s.c.