NCT00338481

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

"Red Morphine Drops" for Symptomatic Treatment of Dyspnoea in Terminal Patients With Primary Lung Cancer or Lung metastases-a Pilot Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: Sankt Lukas Hospice · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed 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.

Conditions

• Dyspnea
• Lung Neoplasms

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Morphine p.o.	Morphine p.o. in "red morphine drops" calculated as 1/12 of the 24 hours opioid consumption converted to morphine p.o., max. 24 mg morphine p.o.and isotonic sodium chloride s.c.
DRUG	Morphine s.c.	False "red morphine drops" without morphine p.o. and 60% of 1/12 of the 24 hours opioid consumption converted to morphine p.o. but given s.c., max. 14,4 mg

Timeline

• Start date: 2006-04-01
• Primary completion: 2011-02-01
• Completion: 2011-02-01
• First posted: 2006-06-20
• Last updated: 2011-07-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Denmark