Nebulized opioids to treat dyspnea

Breathlessness secondary to cancer and nonmalignant disease is very distressing and exhausting to patients and families. Patient quality of life and functionality can be greatly improved with effective management. The pathophysiology and treatment of dyspnea are where the science of pain management was 20 years ago. While the optimal therapy for dyspnea would be to treat the underlying cause, this is frequently not possible. Research results evaluating dosages and effectiveness of nebulized morphine are conflicting. Some researchers have reported dramatic benefit to patients in relieving the symptoms of dyspnea, increasing exercise endurance, and improving function. Other studies have reported no significant differences between nebulized morphine and saline with or without oxygen. Studies that administer single predetermined doses that are not titrated to relief in patients that do not have end-stage lung or cardiac disease may report false-negative results. Other factors such as the placebo effect of saline and oxygen, if not controlled, may cause false-positive results. The dramatic positive benefits documented warrant further investigation on the appropriate patient selection criteria and therapeutic potential. Clearly, large scale randomized trials on opioid nebulized treatments for patients with severe dyspnea need to be published to reach a clear consensus outlining efficacy and administration parameters. Until that time, we must rely on anecdotal reports for treatment options. Such reports of the effectiveness of nebulized morphine as an alternative to hospital or hospice admission are encouraging for patients and family members managing severe dyspnea in the home.