Bruera, E., Macmillan, K., Pither, J., & MacDonald, R.N. (1990). Effects of morphine on the dyspnea of terminal cancer patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 5(6), 341–344.
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of one dose of subcutaneous (SC) morphine on dyspnea in patients with terminal cancer.
Patients were given 2.5 times their regular dose of morphine, administered at the time of their scheduled analgesic dose. In five patients who were not receiving opioids, the dose was 5 mg of morphine. The average dose administered was 22–28 mg.
The study reported on a sample of 20 consecutive patients with terminal cancer; all patients had severe dyspnea at rest because of restrictive respiratory failure.
The study was conducted on a palliative care unit.
The study was an open, uncontrolled trial.
The study had a small sample size.