Formulary
Doxapram hydrochloride: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Doxapram hydrochloride clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Doxapram hydrochloride: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Doxapram hydrochloride clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Acute respiratory failure**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion): 1.5-4 mg/minute, adjusted according to response, to be given concurrently with oxygen and whenever possible monitor with frequent measurement of blood gas tensions.
Cautions
Give with beta 2 agonist in bronchoconstriction; give with oxygen in severe irreversible airways obstruction or severely decreased lung compliance (because of increased work load of breathing); hypertension; impaired cardiac reserve; phaeochromocytoma
Contraindications
Cerebral oedema; cerebrovascular accident; coronary artery disease; epilepsy and other convulsive disorders; hyperthyroidism; physical obstruction of respiratory tract; severe hypertension; status asthmaticus
Side effects
Frequency not known Arrhythmias; chest discomfort; confusion; cough; dizziness; dyspnoea; fever; flushing; hallucination; headache; hyperhidrosis; movement disorders; nausea; neuromuscular dysfunction; oral disorders; perineal warmth; reflexes abnormal; respiratory disorders; seizure; urinary disorders; vomiting
Interactions
**Other interactions (4):**
- Clinical data suggest that concurrent use of aminophylline/theophylline and Doxapram hydrochloride may be associated with increased CNS stimulation, agitation, muscle fasciculation and hyperactivity.
- Doxapram hydrochloride should also be administered with great care to patients being treated concurrently with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
- Animal studies have shown that the action of doxapram hydrochloride may be potentiated after pre-treatment with a MAOI (see section 4.4) Doxapram hydrochloride may potentiate the effects of...
- Doxapram may temporarily mask the residual effects of curare-type muscle relaxant drugs (see section 4.4).
Pregnancy
No evidence of harm, but manufacturer advises avoid unless benefit outweighs risk.
Hepatic impairment
Manufacturer advises use with caution.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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