In the palliative care of patients with motor neurone disease (MND) sy
mptoms are encountered that can be helped by the use of strong opioid
medication. A retrospective survey of the 32 patients dying of MND at
the Wisdom Hospice who required opioids showed that 75% received oral
opioids, 94% received parenteral opioids and 72% received both oral an
d parenteral opioids. The median oral morphine dose was 60 mg/24 h, wi
th a median duration of 51 days and the median pa-enteral dose was 180
mg/24 h with a median duration of use of three days. The results show
that strong opioids can be used safely and effectively in the palliat
ive care of patients with MND.