Fentanyl depression of respiration: Comparison with heroin and morphine.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Fentanyl overdose deaths have reached "epidemic" levels in North America. Death in opioid overdose invariably results from respiratory depression. In the present work, we have characterized how fentanyl depresses respiration, and by comparing fentanyl with heroin and morphine, the active breakdown product of heroin, we have sought to determine the factors, in addition to high potency, that contribute to the lethality of fentanyl.

Experimental approach

Respiration (rate and tidal volume) was measured in awake, freely moving mice by whole body plethysmography.

Key results

Intravenously administered fentanyl produced more rapid depression of respiration than equipotent doses of heroin or morphine. Fentanyl depressed both respiratory rate and tidal

SUBMITTER: Hill R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6989952 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature