Question

A 68-year-old man with metastatic lung cancer is bedbound and has a prognosis of weeks. He is increasingly breathless at rest and distressed despite maximal non-pharmacological measures and oxygen. What is the most appropriate pharmacological management of his breathlessness at the end of life?

Accepted Answer

Low-dose oral or subcutaneous opioid such as morphine

Answer

High-dose benzodiazepines alone

Answer

Long-term high-dose steroids

Answer

Nebulised salbutamol as sole therapy

Answer

Therapeutic anticoagulation

Practice question

A 68-year-old man with metastatic lung cancer is bedbound and has a prognosis of weeks. He is increasingly breathless at rest and distressed despite maximal non-pharmacological measures and oxygen. What is the most appropriate pharmacological management of his breathlessness at the end of life?