Effect of Inhaled Fentanyl on Dyspnea and Exercise Tolerance in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Breathing discomfort (dyspnea) and activity limitation are dominant symptoms of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and contribute to poor health-related quality of life in
this population. Several small, uncontrolled studies and published case reports have provided
evidence that inhaled fentanyl, a powerful pain relieving (opioid) medication, may be used to
effectively reduce breathing discomfort in patients with advanced disease. However, the
mechanisms of this improvement remain unclear. Therefore, the investigators plan to conduct
the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study designed to explore
the possible mechanisms of action of inhaled fentanyl on activity-related dyspnea and
exercise performance in patients with advanced COPD.