Cannabinoid CB₂ Receptor Activation Attenuates Fentanyl-Induced Respiratory Depression.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Overdose fatalities associated with the opioid epidemic are predictably attributable to drug-induced respiratory depression. In terms of illicit opioid abuse, fentanyl is the synthetic opioid responsible for the largest number of overdose deaths. There is, therefore, an urgent need to identify safe and effective therapeutics that can attenuate fentanyl-induced respiratory depression. Identification of effective alternate analgesic strategies that lessen the respiratory depression associated with narcotics would also help improve current strategies for pain management. Our laboratory recently reported that the G protein-biased CB₂ cannabinoid receptor agonist LY2828360 suppressed chemotherapy-induced neuropathic nociception and attenuated both morphine tolera

SUBMITTER: Zavala CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8612411 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature