Korean J Anesthesiol.  1991 Jun;24(3):471-477. 10.4097/kjae.1991.24.3.471.

The Effect of Intravenous Injection of Nalbuphine Hydrochloride on CO2 Response Curve in Normal Volunteers

• Ham BM
• Baik HJ
• Yum KW

• KMID: 2239272
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1991.24.3.471

Abstract

Nalbuphine, a recently introduced agonist-antagonist analgesic is considered to have analgesic potency similar to morphine in common clinical doses and has been reported to possess an ceiling effect on respiratory depression and to be effective in reversing respiratory depression induced by oxymorphone or hydromorphone. To evaluate the respiratory depression of nalbuphine hydrochloride, we use displacement of CO2 response by a rebreathing method as the index of respiratory depression. Eight healthy male subjects were given the nalbuphine at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg(nalbuphine group) or same volume of normal saline as a placebo(placebo group) intravenously, at interval of 2 weeks by a double blind test. We measured end-tidal PCO2(PETCO2), minute ventilation (VE), tidal volume(VT), and respiratyory frequency(f) at 10 min, 30 min, 60 min and 90 min after the injection. The linear regression equations of VE in response to PCO2 10 min, 30 min, 60 min and 90 min after injection are y=-11.3+0.34X(R=0.66), y=-11.5+0.3X(R=0.53), y=-9.85+0.33X(R =0.61) and y=-11.8+0.37X(R=0.67) in placebo group and y=-11.1+0.30X(R=0.54), y= 13.1+0.35X(R=0.64), y=-11.3+0.33X(R=0.66) and y=-13.4+0.37X(R=0.63) in nalbuphine group.There were no significant differences in the slope of the CO2 response curves between placebo group and nalbuphine group. But there were rightward displacements of the CO2 response curves, which were significant rightward displacements at 60 min and 90 min after the injection(P<0.05). These findings demonstrate that nalbuphine hydrochloride might be a respiratory depressant.

Keyword

Nalbuphine hydrochloride; VE; PETCO2; CO2responsecurve; Slope Riqhtward dis- placement

MeSH Terms

Healthy Volunteers*
Humans
Hydromorphone
Injections, Intravenous*
Linear Models
Male
Morphine
Nalbuphine*
Oxymorphone
Respiratory Insufficiency
Ventilation
Hydromorphone
Morphine
Nalbuphine
Oxymorphone