López-Saca, J.M., & Centeno, C. (2014). Opioids prescription for symptoms relief and the impact on respiratory function: Updated evidence. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 8, 383–390.
STUDY PURPOSE: To review evidence regarding the use of opioids for dyspnea and associated risks of respiratory depression
TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 47
PHASE OF CARE: End-of-life care
APPLICATIONS: Palliative care
In studies measuring dyspnea, opioids were consistently shown to significantly reduce dyspnea and respiratory effort. A few studies described minor changes in respiratory rate and PaCO2, but they were not clinically significant.
Findings support the safety and effectiveness of opioids for the management of dyspnea in patients with advanced disease.
This review provides additional support for the effectiveness of opioids to reduce dyspnea, and provides some evidence that this does not cause significant respiratory depression.