Which Drug Causes Respiratory Depression?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Some health conditions can also cause respiratory depression. Common causes include: overdose of an opiate or opioid , such as morphine, tramadol, heroin, or fentanyl.

Which class of drug is most likely to cause respiratory depression?

In current medical practice, the most important group of drugs that depress ventilation are opioids , which include both the natural derivatives from the poppy plant, Papaver somniferum (opiates such as morphine), and (semi)synthetic opioids (the fenylpiperidines such as fentanyl, sufentanil, alfentanil, and ...

Do analgesics cause respiratory depression?

In addition to their analgesic properties, opioid drugs induce sedation and respiratory depression .

What does respiratory depression feel like?

Respiratory depression refers to the feeling of having a reduced urge to breathe . It can create a pattern like sighing when breathing, which is defined as deep breaths with long pauses between them. Sedation occurs along with respiratory depression resulting from opiate use.

Does caffeine help with respiratory depression?

Caffeine decreases apnea by stimulating the medullary respiratory centers , increasing carbon dioxide sensitivity, and enhancing diaphragmatic function, leading to increased minute ventilation, improved respiratory pattern, and reduced hypoxic respiratory depression 1 , 12 .

What is respiratory depression?

Respiratory depression (hypoventilation) is a breathing disorder characterized by slow and ineffective breathing . During a normal breathing cycle, you inhale oxygen into your lungs.

Can narcotics cause respiratory depression?

The most common cause of opioid overdose and death is opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD), a life-threatening depression in respiratory rate thought to be caused by stimulation of opioid receptors in the inspiratory-generating regions of the brain.

Who is at risk for respiratory depression?

Summary: Elderly, female sex , presence of obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, neurologic disease, renal disease, obesity, two or more comorbidities, opioid dependence, use of patient controlled analgesia, different routes of administration of ...

Does depression make it hard to breathe?

All respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, breathlessness and nightly symptoms, were more common, at a statistically significant level, in participants who had depression and anxiety, even after adjusting for confounders (ORs 1.33–1.94).

Can depression cause hyperventilation?

For some people, hyperventilation is rare. It only occurs as an occasional, panicked response to fear, stress, or a phobia. For others, this condition occurs as a response to emotional states, such as depression, anxiety, or anger. When hyperventilation is a frequent occurrence, it’s known as hyperventilation syndrome.

Is asthma respiratory depression?

As opposed to typical asthma symptoms, some of which you experience more than you see, respiratory distress is entirely evidenced by the experience of “not being able to breathe.” It is often associated with poor asthma control or a combination of factors, both psychological and environment, which contribute to an ...

Does caffeine stimulate breathing?

Professor Doyle says rather than keeping the babies awake – they still sleep most of the time – caffeine seems to “smooth out” the pauses in breathing. “It does something to the baby’s brain. Part of our brain called the respiratory centre controls breathing . It does this automatically all the time.

What drug is in caffeine?

Caffeine is a stimulant drug , which means it speeds up the messages travelling between the brain and the body. It’s found in the seeds, nuts and leaves of a number of different plants, including: Coffea Arabica (used for coffee) Thea sinensis (used for tea)

Can I drink caffeine with morphine?

Caffeine has potential properties to counteract the central effects of morphine . Twelve patients receiving stable doses of slow release morphine with adequate pain relief were scheduled for this double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial.

What are four signs of respiratory distress?

  • Breathing rate. An increase in the number of breaths per minute may mean that a person is having trouble breathing or not getting enough oxygen.
  • Color changes. ...
  • Grunting. ...
  • Nose flaring. ...
  • Retractions. ...
  • Sweating. ...
  • Wheezing. ...
  • Body position.

How do you reverse respiratory depression?

The only treatment currently available to reverse opioid respiratory depression is by naloxone infusion . The efficacy of naloxone depends on its own pharmacological characteristics and on those (including receptor kinetics) of the opioid that needs reversal.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.