Oral morphine and respiratory function amongst hospice inpatients with advanced cancer Journal Article
| Authors: | Walsh, T. D.; Rivera, N. I.; Kaiko, R. |
| Article Title: | Oral morphine and respiratory function amongst hospice inpatients with advanced cancer |
| Abstract: | Background: Respiratory depression is the opioid adverse effect feared most by physicians. This may hinder adequate dosing in cancer pain. The study was conducted to examine the respiratory function of patients with advanced cancer receiving significant doses (>100 mg/24 h) of oral morphine. Patients and methods: Consecutive pain-free hospice inpatients with advanced cancer receiving high-dose immediate-release oral morphine were evaluated. A single assessment of respiratory rate (RR), arterial blood gas (ABG), and peak flow rate (PFR) was made at assumed morphine steady state. Venous blood was drawn for a trough morphine plasma level. Results: Of 31 patients who consented to examination, 20 completed the study assessment; 12 had chronic bronchitis. The median morphine dose was 30 mg 4-hourly (range 20 to 90 mg). Only one patient had evidence of ventilatory impairment. Conclusions: Morphine does not commonly cause chronic ventilatory impairment when given in this way in this population even in the presence of pre-existing or concurrent respiratory disease. Oral morphine given repeatedly in individualized dosage is a safe and efficacious analgesic in the majority of those with advanced cancer. |
| Keywords: | adult; clinical article; controlled study; aged; middle aged; clinical trial; advanced cancer; drug efficacy; drug safety; drug megadose; prospective study; neoplasms; controlled clinical trial; pain; opiate; cancer pain; clinical protocol; patient monitoring; drug effect; evaluation; blood sampling; hospital patient; health services research; drug monitoring; drug blood level; morphine; respiration depression; analgesics, opioid; respiratory function; drug dose regimen; administration, oral; arterial gas; drug utilization; hospice; respiratory insufficiency; hospice care; drug release; respiratory function tests; inpatients; venous blood; titrimetry; breathing rate; chronic bronchitis; cancer; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article; peak expiratory flow |
| Journal Title: | Supportive Care in Cancer |
| Volume: | 11 |
| Issue: | 12 |
| ISSN: | 0941-4355 |
| Publisher: | Springer Verlag |
| Date Published: | 2003-12-01 |
| Start Page: | 780 |
| End Page: | 784 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00520-003-0530-0 |
| PUBMED: | 14577019 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Export Date: 12 September 2014 -- Source: Scopus |
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
Related MSK Work