BETTER-B

This major multi-centre European-wide clinical trial was led by Professor Irene Higginson at King’s College, London.

Breathlessness is a common, distressing symptom in advanced disease, particularly those affecting the heart and lungs. There are few effective pharmacological treatments and early data suggest that serotonergic modulation is beneficial. Mirtazapine is a widely used noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA). BETTER-B will determine whether mirtazapine has a role in the management of chronic breathlessness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). The purpose of the study is to test whether Mirtazepine is more effective in the relief of chronic breathlessness than placebo.