Pharmacology of Respiratory stimulants

1. Respiratory stimulants
Ms Snehal S. Chakorkar (M.pharm)
Dept Of Pharmacology
1
30 Jan 2020

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Introduction: Respiratory Stimulants
Definition: “These are drugs which stimulate
respiration and can have resuscitative value ( property
to restore consciousness ) in coma or fainting.”
At low dose they stimulate respiration, but margin of
safety is narrow; at high dose the patient may get
convulsions while still in coma.
Mechanical support to respiration and other measures to
improve circulation are more effective and safe.

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Role of analeptics: Role in therapeutics is very
limited used in conditions like;
(a) Overdose with sedatives or hypnotic untill
mechanical ventilation is instituted.
(b) Suffocation on drowning, acute respiratory
insufficiency or in postanesthetic respiratory
depression.
(c) Apnoea in premature infant.
(d) Failure to ventilate spontaneously after general
anaesthesia.
(e) idiopathic hypoventilation.

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Classification of respiratory stimulants:
A) Drugs directly activating respiratory centre:
Ex-Caffine, Bemegride, Etimizole.
B) Drugs acting by reflex action:
Ex-Cytiton,Lobeline.
C) Drugs shows mixed type of action:
Ex-Nikethamide, Carbogen.

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Respiratory stimulants : Ex-Doxapram
Continuous i.v. infusion of doxapram may abolish episodes of apnoea in
premature infant not responding to theophylline.
selective for the
respiratory centre
promoting excitation of
central neurones
Respiratory stimulation
low doses
low doses
Respiratory stimulation
Falling BP rises
stimulation through
carotid and aortic body
chemoreceptor's

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Reference:
Rang H.P. and Dale M.M.: Pharmacology, Churchill
Livingstone, Edinbergh.
Katzung B.G.: Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Lange
Medical Publications, California.
Craig C.R. and Stitzel R.E.: Modern Pharmacology, Little
Brown and Co., Boston.
Bowman W.C. and Rand M.J.: Textbook of Pharmacology,
Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.
P.N Bennett & M J Brown: Clinical Pharmacology,
Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
Tripathi K.D.: Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Jaypee
Brothers, Medical Publishers, New Delhi.

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