Nebulized furosemide as a novel treatment for dyspnea in terminal cancer patients.
Three terminal cancer patients with severe dyspnea were treated with nebulized furosemide. The underlying causes of dyspnea varied. Twenty milligrams of furosemide was nebulized and inhaled four times each day. Dyspnea dramatically improved and could be controlled for weeks. No noticeable side effects were observed. Inhalation of nebulized furosemide seems to be an effective and useful treatment for dyspnea in terminal cancer patients, but these observations need to be confirmed in a randomized controlled trial.
Shimoyama
Naohito
N
Division of Pain and Palliative Care, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukuji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Shimoyama
Megumi
M
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D019452:Terminally Ill
D004232:Diuretics; D005665:Furosemide