Amiphenazole (Daptazile) is a
respiratory stimulant
Doxapram hydrochloride (marketed as Dopram, Stimulex or Respiram) is a respiratory stimulant. Administered intravenously, doxapram stimulates an increase in tidal volume, and respiratory rate.
Mechanism of action
Doxapram stimulates chemorecep ...
traditionally used as an antidote for
barbiturate
Barbiturates are a class of depressant drugs that are chemically derived from barbituric acid. They are effective when used medically as anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants, but have physical and psychological addiction potential as we ...
or
opiate
An opiate, in classical pharmacology, is a substance derived from opium. In more modern usage, the term ''opioid'' is used to designate all substances, both natural and synthetic, that bind to opioid receptors in the brain (including antagonis ...
overdose, usually in combination with
bemegride
Bemegride (trademarked as Megimide) is a central nervous system stimulant. The drug was first made in 1911. It has been used in hypnotic overdose.
As with other chemoreceptor agonists, it is a potent emetic at doses above those normally used in m ...
, as well as poisoning from other sedative drugs and treatment of respiratory failure from other causes. It was considered particularly useful as it could counteract the
sedation
Sedation is the reduction of irritability or agitation by administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure or diagnostic procedure. Examples of drugs which can be used for sedation include isoflurane, diethyl ether, ...
and
respiratory depression
Hypoventilation (also known as respiratory depression) occurs when ventilation is inadequate (''hypo'' meaning "below") to perform needed respiratory gas exchange. By definition it causes an increased concentration of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia ...
produced by
morphine but with less effect on
analgesia. It is still rarely used in medicine in some countries, although it has largely been replaced by more effective respiratory stimulants such as
doxapram and specific opioid antagonists such as
naloxone.
References
Antidotes
Stimulants
Respiratory agents
Thiazoles
World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited substances
{{respiratory-system-drug-stub