Doxapram

Doxapram
Systematic (IUPAC) name
1-ethyl-4- (2-morpholin-4-ylethyl)- 3,3-diphenyl-pyrrolidin-2-one
Clinical data
Routes of
administration
Intravenous
Legal status
  • (Prescription only)
Identifiers
CAS Number 309-29-5 YesY
ATC code R07AB01 (WHO)
PubChem CID 3156
DrugBank DB00561 YesY
ChemSpider 3044 YesY
UNII 94F3830Q73 YesY
KEGG D07873 YesY
ChEBI CHEBI:681848 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL1754 YesY
Chemical data
Formula C24H30N2O2
Molar mass 378.507 g/mol
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Doxapram hydrochloride (marketed as Dopram, Stimulex or Respiram) is a respiratory stimulant. Administered intravenously, doxapram stimulates an increase in tidal volume, and respiratory rate.

Mechanism of action

photograph of a vial of doxapram
A vial of doxapram

Doxapram stimulates chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies of the carotid arteries, which in turn, stimulates the respiratory centre in the brain stem.

Appearance

Doxapram is a white to off-white, odorless, crystalline powder that is stable in light and air. It is soluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol and practically insoluble in ether. Injectable products have a pH from 3.5-5. Benzyl alcohol or chlorobutanol is added as a preservative agent in the commercially available injections.

Uses

Doxapram is used in intensive care settings to stimulate the respiratory rate in patients with respiratory failure. It may be useful for treating respiratory depression in patients who have taken excessive doses of drugs such as buprenorphine which may fail to respond adequately to treatment with naloxone.[1]

It is equally effective as pethidine in suppressing shivering after surgery.[2]

Side effects

Side effects include high blood pressure, panic attacks, rapid heart rate, tremor, sweating and vomiting. Convulsions have been reported. Its use is relatively contraindicated in people with coronary heart disease, epilepsy, and high blood pressure. It is also contraindicated in newborns and small children, mainly due to the presence of benzyl alcohol, which is included as a preservative.

See also

References

  1. Buprenorphine Drug Data Sheet
  2. Singh, P; Dimitriou, V; Mahajan, RP; Crossley, AW (1993). "Double-blind comparison between doxapram and pethidine in the treatment of postanaesthetic shivering". British journal of anaesthesia 71 (5): 685–8. doi:10.1093/bja/71.5.685. PMID 8251281.
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