Doxapram and Head injury

• Generic Name: doxapram
• Dosage Forms: injection
• Other Brand Names: Dopram

Treatment of drug-induced postanesthetic respiratory depression or apnea not caused by skeletal muscle relaxants.

Other supportive therapy preferred due to questionable benefit and high potential for toxicity with doxapram. Limited role due to availability of safer and shorter-acting anesthetic agents.

Has been used in conjunction with supportive measures to stimulate respiration and hasten arousal in patients with respiratory and CNS depression secondary to drug overdose (e.g., barbiturates, opiate analgesics, general anesthetics).

However, use as an analeptic is strongly discouraged by most clinicians; analeptic therapy largely abandoned in favor of intensive supportive care (e.g., mechanical ventilation, oxygenation, cardiovascular support) and specific antidotes (e.g., pure opiate antagonists).

Short-term use in patients with acute respiratory insufficiency associated with COPD.

Role in such patients is limited; other supportive therapy (i.e., noninvasive ventilation using either negative- or positive-pressure device) is preferred.

Has been used for the treatment of neonatal apnea, principally in combination with theophylline or caffeine.

Limited support for this use; no apparent advantage over methylxanthines and risk of substantial adverse effects with doxapram therapy. The commercially available injection contains benzyl alcohol; use of this preparation in neonates is not recommended. (See Pediatric Use under Cautions.)

Should not be used in conjunction with mechanical ventilation.