- Doxapram is a monohydrated pyrrolidinone derivative
- As a respiratory stimulant
- Post-operative respiratory depression
- Acute-on-chronic respiratory failure
- Treatment of laryngospasm
- Facilitate blind nasal intubation
- Treatment of post-operative shivering
- A clear, colourless solution of 20mg/ml - dose 1mg/kg
- As 2mg/ml doxapram hydrochloride in 5% dextrose solution for infusion (dose 1.5 - 4mg/min)
- Acts primarily on the carotid body chemoreceptors to stimulate respiration
- Secondary action via stimulation of the medullary respiratory centre
- Acts in 20-40s with duration of approximately 10mins
- Unknown metabolic pathway
- 5% excreted unchanged
- Very high clearance: 370ml/min
- Half life 2-4hrs
- Increases minute ventilation primarily through increasing tidal volume
- At higher doses RR may increase
- Increases work of breathing
- Increases cardiac output, primarily by increasing SV
- Can cause tachyarrhythmia and HTN
- Increased UO
- Increased GU motility
- Increased salivation
- Increased gastrointestinal tone and motility
- Increased catecholamine and steroid secretion
- 30% increase in metabolic rate (there may be hypoxia due to increased oxygen consumption)