Antagonists of morphine‐induced respiratory depression: A study in postoperative patients

Abstract

This double blind study showed the effect of four drugs, levallorphan, naloxone, doxapram and amiphenazole, on opiate‐induced analgesia and respiratory depression. Satisfactory analgesia was induced by administration of morphine intravenously in a dose of up to 0‐33 mg/kg; such a dose, however, produced significant depression of respiration. Administration of levallorphan, naloxone, and amiphenazole produced reversal of respiratory depression and analgesia. Doxapram reversed the respiratory depression but did not alter analgesia. Copyright © 1980, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved