The respiratory depressive effects of intravenous buprenorphine in patients in an intensive care unit.

Buprenorphine hydrochloride, a new, potent, long-acting synthetic opiate analgesic, with partial agonist-antagonist activity, was administered intravenously to two groups of patients in an intensive care unit. Arterial blood was drawn for blood gas analysis before (control) and at regular intervals after drug administration, to determine the effects of intravenous buprenorphine on respiration in critically ill patients, each acting as his or her own control. Intravenous buprenorphine 0,4 mg (group I -- 10 patients) caused a significant reduction in mean respiration rate and an increase in mean PaCO2, but did not alter heart rate, PaO2 or base excess values. Intravenous buprenorphine 0,2 mg (group II -- 10 patients) was associated with a less significant reduction in the rate of breathing and elevation of PaCO2. Both 0,4 mg and 0,2 mg buprenorphine produced effective relief of pain, sedation, and reduction in restlessness, and allayed anxiety. Our results suggest that intravenous buprenorphine 0,2 mg can be safely recommended for the prolonged relief of postoperative pain in adults.