In this episode, Professor Irene Higginson, Director of Better Health and Care Futures at King’s College London, discusses the complex challenges of managing breathlessness. She explores non-pharmacological strategies, the value of multidisciplinary care, and how the Breathlessness Support Services at KCL are transforming patient support. Tune in for expert insights and a look at future directions in breathlessness research and care.

The BETTER-B study, recently presented at ERS and published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, provided new insights into the management of severe breathlessness in patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).  Severe breathlessness is a debilitating symptom that significantly impacts the quality of life for millions of people worldwide, yet there are currently no licensed medications to effectively address it outside of Australia. Given the clinical challenges and limited treatment options, clinicians often resort to off-label use of medications like mirtazapine, a widely prescribed antidepressant that appeared promising. Despite its initial promise, the study found that doses ranging from 15 to 45 mg of mirtazapine failed to provide significant relief compared to a placebo. Additionally, the findings highlighted potential adverse effects and increased healthcare costs associated with its use. 

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