EFFECT OF ORAL DOXAPRAM ON MORPHINE-INDUCED CHANGES IN THE VENTILATORY RESPONSE TO CARBON DIOXIDE

A double-blind crossover volunteer trial has been carried out to determine if oral doxapram reduces the respiratory depression caused by morphine 0.12 mg kg−1 i.m. Doxapram was given to the subjects 90 min before the morphine and significantly reduced the displacement of the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide caused by the morphine. This occurred despite the fact that the plasma concentrations of doxapram were significantly lower when the subject had been given morphine than when a placebo injection had been administered. Doxapram alone in doses of 300 mg and 600 mg did not alter significantly the respiratory variables measured in this study.