title: Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of morphine in infant monkeys.
abstract: We report the pharmacokinetics of morphine administered as intravenous boluses in newborn (less than 7 days) and 3- to 4-month-old macaque monkeys. Morphine was administered in a series of bolus doses until PaCO2 was elevated greater than 50 mm Hg. In newborns less than 7 days of age, a mean dose of 1.4 mg/kg was required (range 0.75-2.8 mg/kg), and in the 3-month-olds, a mean dose of 1.88 mg/kg was required (range 1.5-2.5 mg/kg). The respiratory effects measured by PaCO2 and respiratory rate did not correlate with declining serum or cerebrospinal fluid morphine levels. Both newborn and 3- to 4-month-old macaque monkeys show only mild respiratory depression after intravenous morphine, at serum concentrations as high as 300-400 ng/ml. Infant and young macaque monkeys appear to be less sensitive to the respiratory depressant effect of morphine than humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: McRorie
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Slattery
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calkins
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Opheim
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008251:Macaca; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D009020:Morphine / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine