Advice please !: Had my "MOT" with Copd... - Lung Conditions C...

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Advice please !

12 years ago•8 Replies

Had my "MOT" with Copd nurses as I have severe copd and am checked every 6 month.As my breathlessness seems worse and I do panic they suggested talking to therapists about coping techniques plus maybe having medication with a small amount of morphine,just to use as and when.I googled this and it seemed not conclusive either way but did seem to help for some.I am a member of a Copd group on Facebook so I posted on it to see if anyone was using this etc but the response was very negative saying they had never heard of this and that it was not medically approved.Can anyone help with this ?? I was feeling a bit hopeful till I saw all this ! Ps this a morphine inhaler not drops or tablets.

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mypeppa

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12 years ago

Never heard of a morphine inhaler. Morphine sulphate can be prescribed in either tablet or syrup to help ease breathlessness - but not prescribed in all cases. Morphine supresses the respiratory function so in small doses can be used to ease severe breathlessness. I think you should go back to the nurse and clarify - call the Helpline - 03000 030 555 - if you want to have a chat about it.

Thanks

Mark

kulfi12 years ago

Not medically approved by doctors by what means is this morphine inhaler obtained a very bad thought if this is how we will be treated in future most concerned at hearing this.

valm12 years ago

I have seen oramorph used in COPD out in the community as a carer to relieve breathlessness/panic attacks with good effect. Val

12 years ago

Hello,

I feel the very nature of opiates(heroin, morphine, etc) could mean that instead of "to be used as needed"" it may become a case of - through the very nature and characteristic of opiates -"used more and more frequently", because, the main characteristic, apart from the pain relieving properties opiates have, is addiction, so I would never start using that.

Use of it in a hospital by means of having it administered to you when in unbearable pain is okay, but to have it at home, I'm wondering if it would be something people could control and use correctly as prescribed.

12 years ago

The dose of morphine in oramorph is much smaller than you would find in the other morphine medication - but you have to look at the benefits of using it to help ease breathlessness for some people. It isn't available to everyone - but is used in some cases.

As for the inhaler version - never heard of it - just looked in the BNF and no mention of it - could be a medication that is undergoing clinical trials - so need more info about the alleged morphine inhaler.

Thanks

Mark

12 years ago

I also think it is something that needs careful monitoring by the medical professional that prescribes this.

Here is something on it Mark:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

mypeppa12 years ago

Thanks everyone for your quick feedback! I agree with the idea it could be addictive,not the wanting morphine but loving the idea you are no longer breathless,how many of us would not want that again !! When I said " not medically approved " that was not me talking but the Facebook Copd site who must have formed their own opinions after research ! I will know more when my consultant returns from holiday as the resp nurse will be discussing my condition.I will keep everyone in the loop about this.

Keep well everyone x

• in reply tomypeppa12 years ago

Check the link I posted above mypeppa - you will find out more by reading that page.

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