RESEARCH suggests morphine could play a key role in getting people with chronic breathlessness back behind the wheel.
Australia was the first country to approve regular low-dose, extended release morphine capsules to treat the condition.
While there are concerns about the safety of using morphine while driving, researchers say it could be safe in controlled doses.
Patients and their caregivers were interviewed about what tasks would be achievable if their condition was better controlled.
The research was carried out by a team from Flinders University, in connection with the Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC).
PaCCSC leader David Currow said driving helped to maintain a sense of normality and independence.
"Any therapy that could reduce the sensation of chronic breathlessness safely is beneficial in optimising such things as driving and will be very beneficial to these patients," Professor Currow said.
He said research suggested regular low doses of the drug did not seem to impact on patient's "self perceived driving ability".
He said future research should focus on whether oral, low-dose morphine impacted on driving ability, particularly during initiation and after dosage changes.
Chronic breathlessness is a common problem for people with life-limiting illnesses including cancer, respiratory disease, heart failure and some neuro-degenerative diseases.
More than 300,000 people across Australia suffer from chronic breathlessness and 75,000 are housebound with extremely limited activity.
To read the paper, click here.