title: Clonidine prolongs fentanyl-induced ventilatory depression.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of intravenously (i.v.) administered fentanyl and clonidine on ventilation in 12 healthy male volunteers (age 30.8 +/- 4.9 years) who either received fentanyl alone (1.5 > or = micrograms kg-1) or fentanyl (1.5 > or = micrograms kg-1) in combination with clonidine (3 > or = micrograms kg-1). The effect on ventilation was measured with a CO2 rebreathing system. The respiratory depression caused by fentanyl disappeared 120 min after injection. The corresponding slopes were 7430 +/- 2075 mL kPa-1 prior to (t0) and 6263 +/- 1864 mL kPa-1 120 min post-application (base-line vs. t120; P = 0.106). An impaired ventilatory response was observed during CO2 rebreathing at t120 after the injection of fentanyl and clonidine. Before drug administration, the slope of the response curves was 7700 +/- 2800 mL kPa-1, which was reduced to 5480 +/- 2135 mL kPa-1 (P < 0.035) at t120. These data suggest a prolongation of a fentanyl-induced ventilatory depression when used in combination with clonidine.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luebbe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kiesel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bornscheuer
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000764:Anesthesia, Closed-Circuit; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; D010313:Partial Pressure; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced; D013990:Tidal Volume; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003000:Clonidine; D005283:Fentanyl