A 76-year-old woman with advanced COPD and metastatic breast cancer is breathless at rest despite optimal treatment of reversible causes. She is anxio...

Question

A 76-year-old woman with advanced COPD and metastatic breast cancer is breathless at rest despite optimal treatment of reversible causes. She is anxious and distressed by her breathlessness. What additional pharmacological measure can improve her symptom?

Accepted Answer

Start low-dose oral Morphine to relieve dyspnoea

Answer

Increase long-term oxygen to target saturations above 98%

Answer

Start high-dose benzodiazepines alone

Answer

Use nebulised Adrenaline regularly

Answer

No further treatment is possible

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Refractory breathlessness

A 76-year-old woman with advanced COPD and metastatic breast cancer is breathless at rest despite optimal treatment of reversible causes. She is anxious and distressed by her breathlessness. What additional pharmacological measure can improve her symptom?