Palliation of Dyspnea With Morphine in Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease

Palliation of Dyspnea With Morphine in Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease

36 patients with interstitial lung disease will be randomized to 1 weeks treatment with morphine hydrochloride as oral linctus 5 mg, four times a day, and 5 mg as needed up to 4 times a day, or corresponding doses of placebo.

VAS score for dyspnea will be evaluated after 1 hour and 1 week at follow up. Other questionnaires will also be evaluated (GAD-7, K-BUILD, Leicester score)

Inclusion Criteria:

• A diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (IPF, NSIP, RA-ILS, Scl-ILS, MCTD-ILS, asbestous, drug induced ILD, unclassified ILD)
• Dyspnea corresponding to Medial Research Councils (MRC) dyspnea score ≥ 3
• Written consent
• Age ≥ 18 years
• Competent
• For fertile women: Negative pregnancy test
• For fertile and sexually active participants: Use of safe anti-conceptionals

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ongoing infection
• Decreased lung function to a degree which makes any form of respiratory depression life threatening
• Treatment with morphine or morphine analogues
• Allergy towards morphine hydrochloride