Alleviation of Dyspnea in Patients with Advanced Cancer: Usefulness of Opioid

We report two studies to evaluate the effectiveness of systemic opioid as symptomatic treatment of dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer. In the first study, the severity of dyspnea was reduced by at least one grade in 15(71%) of the 21 patients and was not reduced in 6(29%). The average dose of morphine was 32.2 mg. In another study, the protocol was prepared collaboratively by the palliative care team of 2 istitutions. Improvement rates were similar in the 2 institutions; 76% and 68%. We suggest that small starting dose of morphine should be given for dyspnea and then gradually increased. Patients should be advised about side-effect and carefully monitored.