Morphine is the main and widespread opioid used in treating severe pain (NRS> 7). Combined with other drugs (mainly benzodiazepines) it can also be used in low doses to help suppress respiratory panic.). As a result, it can serve as a drug supporting symptomatic treatment during severe dyspnea symptoms in the course of SARS-COV-2.

Aim of the study: Analysis of the symptomatic treatment effect in patients who received morphine during the treatment of SARS-COV-2 during hospitalization in the internal medicine ward in Southern Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic

Material and methods: The study group consisted of 54 people (23 women and 31 men) hospitalized at the internal ward of the Silesian Provincial Hospital. The study used medical records of treated patients retrospectively, with focusing particularly on saturation, the quality-of-life questionnaire, laboratory tests and the NRS pain intensity scale.

Results: Radical improvement in respiratory comfort among the group of patients treated with morphine was achieved. In all diagnosed respiratory panic attacks, the condition improved with the combination of morphine and benzodiazepines. The most frequently used combination therapy was morphine, midazolam and dexamethasone. Low doses of morphine (1.5 to 5 mg) i. v. were the most commonly used. Maximum dose of morphine used in combination therapy was 10 mg i. v.

Conclusions: In treating respiratory panic and indirect dyspnea in the course of SARS-COV-2 among patients hospitalized in the internal medicine ward during the COVID-19 pandemic, suffering was relieved, and the clinical condition improved. The choice of agents and doses was adjusted individually, the duration of therapy was limited to the necessary minimum, the lowest effective doses of drugs were used.