(DOKS a pram)
Respiratory stimulant for respiratory depression secondary to anesthesia, mild-to-moderate drug-induced respiratory and CNS depression; acute hypercapnia secondary to COPD
Note: In general, the use of doxapram as a respiratory stimulant in adults is limited; alternate therapies are preferred.
Hypersensitivity to doxapram or any component of the formulation; significant cardiovascular impairment (eg, uncompensated heart failure, severe coronary artery disease); severe hypertension (including severe hypertension associated with hyperthyroidism or pheochromocytoma); cerebral edema, cerebral vascular accident, epilepsy, head injury; mechanical disorders of ventilation (eg, mechanical obstruction, muscle paresis, neuromuscular blockade, flail chest, pneumothorax, acute asthma, pulmonary fibrosis); pulmonary embolism
Note: Although manufacturer 's dosing recommendations are presented for these FDA-approved indications, use of doxapram has largely been replaced by alternate preferred agents.
Respiratory depression following anesthesia: IV:
Intermittent injection: Initial: 0.5-1 mg/kg; may repeat at 5-minute intervals (only in patients who demonstrate initial response); maximum total dose: 2 mg/kg
IV infusion: Initial: 5 mg/minute until adequate response or adverse effects seen; decrease to 1-3 mg/minute; maximum total dose: 4 mg/kg
Drug-induced CNS depression: IV:
Intermittent injection: Initial: Priming dose of 1-2 mg/kg; repeat after 5 minutes; may repeat at 1-2 hour intervals (until sustained consciousness); maximum: 3000 mg daily. May repeat in 24 hours if necessary.
IV infusion: Initial: Priming dose of 1-2 mg/kg repeated in 5 minutes. If no response, wait 1-2 hours and repeat priming dose. If some stimulation is noted, initiate infusion at 1-3 mg/minute (depending on size of patient/depth of CNS depression); suspend infusion if patient begins to awaken. Infusion should not be continued for >2 hours. May reinstitute infusion as described above, including bolus, after rest interval of 30 minutes to 2 hours; maximum: 3000 mg daily.
Acute hypercapnia secondary to COPD: IV infusion: Initial: Initiate infusion at 1-2 mg/minute (depending on size of patient/depth of CNS depression); may increase to maximum rate of 3 mg/minute; infusion should not be continued for >2 hours. Monitor arterial blood gases prior to initiation of infusion and at 30-minute intervals during the infusion (to identify possible development of acidosis/CO2 retention). Additional infusions are not recommended (per manufacturer).
Refer to adult dosing.
Children ≥12 years and Adolescents: Refer to adult dosing.
No dosage adjustment provided in manufacturers labeling (has not been studied); however, use caution in severe impairment due to the potential for altered pharmacokinetics.
No dosage adjustment provided in manufacturers labeling (has not been studied); however, use caution in severe impairment due to the potential for altered pharmacokinetics.
To prepare an IV infusion:
Drug-induced CNS depression or postanesthesia: Mix doxapram 250 mg in 250 mL of D5W, D10W, or NS.
COPD-associated hypercapnia: Mix doxapram 400 mg in 180 mL of D5W, D10W, or NS (final concentration: 2 mg/mL).
Administer IV as an intermittent bolus or as an IV infusion. Avoid rapid infusion. Avoid extravasation.
Store intact vials at 20 � �C to 25 � �C (68 � �F to 77 � �F).
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Solution, Intravenous, as hydrochloride:
Dopram: 20 mg/mL (20 mL) [contains benzyl alcohol]
Generic: 20 mg/mL (20 mL)
Stable in D5W, D10W, NS.
Y-site administration: Incompatible with clindamycin.
AtoMOXetine: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Sympathomimetics. AtoMOXetine may enhance the tachycardic effect of Sympathomimetics. Monitor therapy
Cannabinoid-Containing Products: May enhance the tachycardic effect of Sympathomimetics. Exceptions: Cannabidiol. Monitor therapy
Doxofylline: Sympathomimetics may enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Doxofylline. Monitor therapy
Iobenguane I 123: Sympathomimetics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Iobenguane I 123. Avoid combination
Linezolid: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Sympathomimetics. Management: Reduce initial doses of sympathomimetic agents, and closely monitor for enhanced pressor response, in patients receiving linezolid. Specific dose adjustment recommendations are not presently available. Consider therapy modification
MAO Inhibitors: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Doxapram. Exceptions: Tedizolid. Monitor therapy
Sympathomimetics: May enhance the adverse/toxic effect of other Sympathomimetics. Monitor therapy
Tedizolid: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Sympathomimetics. Tedizolid may enhance the tachycardic effect of Sympathomimetics. Monitor therapy
Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, deep tendon reflexes, CNS status, ECG, arterial blood gases (COPD)
Frequency not defined.
Cardiovascular: Cardiac arrhythmia, change in heart rate, chest pain, chest tightness, flattened T wave on ECG, flushing, increased blood pressure, phlebitis ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia
Central nervous system: Apprehension, clonus, disorientation, dizziness, hallucination, headache, hyperactivity, hyperreflexia, involuntary muscle movements, paresthesia, positive Babinski sign, seizure
Dermatologic: Burning sensation of skin, diaphoresis, pruritus
Endocrine & metabolic: Albuminuria
Gastrointestinal: Bowel urgency, diarrhea, hiccups, nausea, vomiting
Genitourinary: Urinary incontinence, urinary retention
Hematologic & oncologic: Decreased hematocrit, decreased hemoglobin, hemolysis, decreased red blood cells
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Fasciculations, laryngospasm, muscle spasm
Ophthalmic: Mydriasis
Renal: Increased blood urea nitrogen
Respiratory: Bronchospasm, cough, dyspnea, hyperventilation, hypoventilation (rebound), tachypnea
Miscellaneous: Fever
<1% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Agitation (emergence), prolonged Q-T interval on ECG (premature neonates), second degree atrioventricular block (premature neonates)
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Cardiovascular effects: May cause dysrhythmias; monitor for disturbances of cardiac rhythm. If sudden hypotension develops during use, discontinue. Increases in blood pressure are generally modest; use is contraindicated in patients with severe hypertension.
- CNS stimulation: May cause severe CNS stimulation, including seizures; anticonvulsants (as well as oxygen and resuscitative equipment) should be available to manage potential excessive CNS stimulation.
Disease-related concerns:
- Cerebrovascular disease: Use with caution in patients with cerebrovascular disease; lowered pCO2 induced by hyperventilation produces cerebral vasoconstriction and decreased circulation.
- Hepatic impairment: Use with caution in patients with hepatic impairment.
- Renal impairment: Use with caution in patients with renal impairment.
- Respiratory disease: Do not use in patients on mechanical ventilation. Use with caution in treating pulmonary disease; a pressor effect on pulmonary circulation may result in a fall in arterial pO2. If sudden dyspnea develops during use, discontinue. Doxapram causes patients to increase the work of breathing; therefore, do not increase the rate of infusion in an attempt to lower the pCO2 in severely-ill COPD patients.
Concurrent drug therapy issues:
- MAO inhibitors (MAOIs): Use caution with coadministration; additive pressor effect may occur.
- Sympathomimetics: Use caution with coadministration; additive pressor effect may occur.
- Volatile anesthetics: If patient has received anesthesia with a volatile agent known to sensitize the myocardium to catecholamines, avoid use of doxapram until anesthetic has been eliminated to decrease the risk of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
Dosage form specific issues:
- Benzyl alcohol and derivatives: Some dosage forms may contain benzyl alcohol; large amounts of benzyl alcohol ( ≥99 mg/kg/day) have been associated with a potentially fatal toxicity ( "gasping syndrome " �) in neonates; the "gasping syndrome " � consists of metabolic acidosis, respiratory distress, gasping respirations, CNS dysfunction (including convulsions, intracranial hemorrhage), hypotension and cardiovascular collapse (AAP [Inactive" 1997]; CDC, 1982); some data suggests that benzoate displaces bilirubin from protein binding sites (Ahlfors, 2001); avoid or use dosage forms containing benzyl alcohol with caution in neonates. See manufacturer 's labeling.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Administration: Avoid extravasation; doxapram may cause thrombophlebitis or local skin irritation. Hemolysis may result from rapid infusion.
- Appropriate use: Adequate airway required prior to use; consider airway protection in case of vomiting. Resuscitative equipment (in addition to anticonvulsants and oxygen) should be readily available; doxapram alone may not be sufficient to stimulate spontaneous breathing or provide sufficient arousal. Doxapram is neither an antagonist to skeletal muscle relaxants nor an opioid antagonist. Use with caution in patients with hypermetabolic states (eg, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma).
B
Adverse events have not been observed in animal reproduction studies.
Stimulates respiration through action on peripheral carotid chemoreceptors; respiratory center in medulla is also directly stimulated as dosage is increased
Vd: Neonates: 4 to 7.3 L/kg
Extensive in the liver to active metabolite (keto-doxapram)
Clearance: Neonates, premature: 0.44 to 0.7 L/hour/kg
Respiratory stimulation: Single IV injection: 20 to 40 seconds; Peak effect: Single IV injection: 1 to 2 minutes
Single IV injection: 5 to 12 minutes
Serum: Neonates, premature: 6.6 to 12 hours; Adults: Mean: 3.4 hours (range: 2.4 to 4.1 hours)
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for healthcare professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience and judgment in diagnosing, treating and advising patients.