A randomised study to compare the effectiveness of hyoscine hydrobromide (Hyoscine) and glycopyrronium (Robinul) in the management of noisy breathing/retained secretions in cancer patients

ISRCTN	ISRCTN87058979
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN87058979
Protocol serial number	N0258107515
Sponsor	Department of Health (UK)
Funder	The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (UK) Charitable Funds

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Prof Janet Hardy
Scientific

c/o Palliative Care
Mater Adult Hospital
Raymond Terrace
South Brisbane
Qld 4101
Australia

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Randomised controlled trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	A randomised study to compare the effectiveness of hyoscine hydrobromide (Hyoscine) and glycopyrronium (Robinul) in the management of noisy breathing/retained secretions in cancer patients
Study objectives	1. To compare the effectiveness of both hyoscine hydrobromide and glycopyrronium at relieving retained secretions at the time of death. 2. To test feasibility of the advanced 'consent process'.
Ethics approval(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Cancer: Noisy breathing, retained secretions
Intervention	Randomised test intervention versus standardised intervention, non-blinded (Phase 3).
Intervention type	Drug
Phase	Phase III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)	Hyoscine hydrobromide, glycopyrronium
Primary outcome measure(s)	1. Provide an evidence base for common practice 2. Provide a means of obtaining consent for research in dying patients
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Completion date	28/02/2005

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Not Specified
Sex	Not Specified
Target sample size at registration	205
Key inclusion criteria	Total number of Royal Marsden Hospital patients 205
Key exclusion criteria	Does not match inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment	28/02/2002
Date of final enrolment	28/02/2005

Mater Adult Hospital

South Brisbane
Qld 4101
Australia

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes

07/12/2015: no publications found on PubMed.
04/01/2016: this study was abandoned in 2003.