-
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... 2000Recurrent apnea is common in preterm infants, particularly at very early gestational ages. These episodes of loss of effective breathing can lead to hypoxemia and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Recurrent apnea is common in preterm infants, particularly at very early gestational ages. These episodes of loss of effective breathing can lead to hypoxemia and bradycardia which may be severe enough to require resuscitation including use of positive pressure ventilation. Doxapram and methylxanthine drugs have been used to stimulate breathing and so prevent apnea and its consequences.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of doxapram compared with methylxanthine in preterm infants with recurrent apnea.
SEARCH STRATEGY
The Cochrane Collaboration Clinical Trials Register (Cochrane Library issue 3, 2000), MEDLINE (1966- July 2000), reference lists of relevant articles and conference proceedings.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized and quasi-randomized trials of doxapram compared with methylxanthine (e.g. theophylline, aminophylline or caffeine) for the treatment of apnea in preterm infants.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
The methodological quality of each trial was reviewed by the second reviewer blinded to trial authors and institution(s). Additional information was requested from authors. Each reviewer extracted the data separately, then they were compared and differences resolved. Meta-analysis was carried out with use of relative risk and risk difference.
MAIN RESULTS
Three trials involving 56 infants were included. No difference was detected between intravenous doxapram or methylxanthine in the incidence of failed treatment within 48 hours (relative risk 1.16, 95% confidence interval 0.43 to 3.13). No infants were reported to have been given mechanical ventilation on either treatment. No adverse effects were reported.
REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous doxapram and intravenous methylxanthine appear to be similar in their short term effects for treating apnea in preterm infants, although these trials are too small to exclude an important difference between the two treatments or to exclude the possibility of less common adverse effects. Longer term outcome of infants treated in these trials has not been reported. Further studies would require a large number of infants to clarify whether there might be differences in responses or adverse effects with these two drugs at different ages.
Topics: Aminophylline; Apnea; Doxapram; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Respiratory System Agents; Theophylline; Xanthines
PubMed: 11034672
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000075 -
Lancet (London, England) Jun 1973
Topics: Animals; Cats; Doxapram; Injections, Intravenous; Respiration; Stimulation, Chemical
PubMed: 4126096
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)91323-8 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... 2000Recurrent apnea is common in preterm infants, particularly at very early gestational ages. These episodes of loss of effective breathing can lead to hypoxemia and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Recurrent apnea is common in preterm infants, particularly at very early gestational ages. These episodes of loss of effective breathing can lead to hypoxemia and bradycardia which may be severe enough to require resuscitation including use of positive pressure ventilation. Doxapram and methylxanthine drugs have been used to stimulate breathing and so prevent apnea and its consequences.
OBJECTIVES
In preterm infants with recurrent apnea, how does treatment with doxapram compare with treatment with theophylline in leading to a clinically important reduction in apnea and use of mechanical ventilation, without clinically important side effects.
SEARCH STRATEGY
The standard search strategy of the Neonatal Review Group, as outlined in the Cochrane Library, was used.
SELECTION CRITERIA
All trials utilising random or quasi-random patient allocation, in which doxapram was compared with methylxanthine (e.g. theophylline) for the treatment of apnea, were eligible. There must have been an effort to exclude specific causes of apnea.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
The standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and its Neonatal Review Group were used to select trials, assess quality and to extract and synthesize data. The methodological quality of each trial was reviewed by the second author blinded to trial authors and institution(s). Additional information was requested from authors to clarify methodology. Each author extracted the data separately, then they were compared and differences resolved. Meta-analysis was carried out with use of relative risk and risk difference.
MAIN RESULTS
In these trials involving a relatively small number of preterm infants with apnea of prematurity, there is no apparent difference between the effect of intravenous treatment with doxapram or methylxanthine on the incidence of apnea within 48 hours. There were no infants reported to have been given mechanical ventilation on either treatment. No adverse effects were reported.
REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS
Implications for practice. The overall results of these small trials suggest that intravenous doxapram and intravenous methylxanthine are not different in their effectiveness in the short term in the treatment of apnea of prematurity. Caution is warranted as the number of patients in these trials is too small to exclude an important difference between these two treatments or to exclude the possibility of less common side effects. Longer term outcome of infants treated in these trials has not been reported. Implications for research. Further studies would require a large number of infants, stratified by gestation, to clarify which infants are likely to benefit and whether there might be differences in responses or side effects with these two drugs at different ages. It would be valuable to include important clinical outcomes such as use of mechanical ventilation as well as subsequent growth and development in future studies. Responses to treatment would have to take account of co-interventions, such as nasal continuous airway pressure which is frequently used post-intubation.
Topics: Aminophylline; Apnea; Doxapram; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Respiratory System Agents; Theophylline; Xanthines
PubMed: 10796115
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000075 -
Pediatric Research Apr 2021Doxapram is used for the treatment of apnea of prematurity in dosing regimens only based on bodyweight, as pharmacokinetic data are limited. This study describes the...
BACKGROUND
Doxapram is used for the treatment of apnea of prematurity in dosing regimens only based on bodyweight, as pharmacokinetic data are limited. This study describes the pharmacokinetics of doxapram and keto-doxapram in preterm infants.
METHODS
Data (302 samples) from 75 neonates were included with a median (range) gestational age (GA) 25.9 (23.9-29.4) weeks, bodyweight 0.95 (0.48-1.61) kg, and postnatal age (PNA) 17 (1-52) days at the start of continuous treatment. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed using non-linear mixed-effects modelling (NONMEM®).
RESULTS
A two-compartment model best described the pharmacokinetics of doxapram and keto-doxapram. PNA and GA affected the formation clearance of keto-doxapram (CL) and clearance of doxapram via other routes (CL). For a median individual of 0.95 kg, GA 25.6 weeks, and PNA 29 days, CL was 0.115 L/h (relative standard error (RSE) 12%) and CL was 0.645 L/h (RSE 9%). Oral bioavailability was estimated at 74% (RSE 10%).
CONCLUSIONS
Dosing of doxapram only based on bodyweight results in the highest exposure in preterm infants with the lowest PNA and GA. Therefore, dosing may need to be adjusted for GA and PNA to minimize the risk of accumulation and adverse events. For switching to oral therapy, a 33% dose increase is required to maintain exposure.
IMPACT
Current dosing regimens of doxapram in preterm infants only based on bodyweight result in the highest exposure in infants with the lowest PNA and GA. Dosing of doxapram may need to be adjusted for GA and PNA to minimize the risk of accumulation and adverse events. Describing the pharmacokinetics of doxapram and its active metabolite keto-doxapram following intravenous and gastroenteral administration enables to include drug exposure to the evaluation of treatment of AOP. The oral bioavailability of doxapram in preterm neonates is 74%, requiring a 33% higher dose via oral than intravenous administration to maintain exposure.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Body Weight; Doxapram; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Male; Nonlinear Dynamics; Reproducibility of Results; Risk; Sleep Apnea, Central
PubMed: 32698193
DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-1037-9 -
Trials Oct 2023Apnoea of prematurity (AOP) is one of the most common diagnoses among preterm infants. AOP often leads to hypoxemia and bradycardia which are associated with an...
BACKGROUND
Apnoea of prematurity (AOP) is one of the most common diagnoses among preterm infants. AOP often leads to hypoxemia and bradycardia which are associated with an increased risk of death or disability. In addition to caffeine therapy and non-invasive respiratory support, doxapram might be used to reduce hypoxemic episodes and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation in preterm infants, thereby possibly improving their long-term outcome. However, high-quality trials on doxapram are lacking. The DOXA-trial therefore aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of doxapram compared to placebo in reducing the composite outcome of death or severe disability at 18 to 24 months corrected age.
METHODS
The DOXA-trial is a double blinded, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada. A total of 396 preterm infants with a gestational age below 29 weeks, suffering from AOP unresponsive to non-invasive respiratory support and caffeine will be randomized to receive doxapram therapy or placebo. The primary outcome is death or severe disability, defined as cognitive delay, cerebral palsy, severe hearing loss, or bilateral blindness, at 18-24 months corrected age. Secondary outcomes are short-term neonatal morbidity, including duration of mechanical ventilation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotising enterocolitis, hospital mortality, adverse effects, pharmacokinetics and cost-effectiveness. Analysis will be on an intention-to-treat principle.
DISCUSSION
Doxapram has the potential to improve neonatal outcomes by improving respiration, but the safety concerns need to be weighed against the potential risks of invasive mechanical ventilation. It is unknown if the use of doxapram improves the long-term outcome. This forms the clinical equipoise of the current trial. This international, multicentre trial will provide the needed high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of doxapram in the treatment of AOP in preterm infants.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04430790 and EUDRACT 2019-003666-41. Prospectively registered on respectively June and January 2020.
Topics: Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Caffeine; Doxapram; Gestational Age; Infant, Premature; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method
PubMed: 37817255
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07683-5 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Feb 1974
Topics: Amobarbital; Anesthetics; Animals; Bucladesine; Doxapram; Humans; Rats; Respiration
PubMed: 4365393
DOI: 10.1093/bja/46.2.169 -
Behavioural Pharmacology Apr 2021Panic disorder can be categorized into the nonrespiratory or the respiratory subtypes, the latter comprising dyspnea, shortness of breath, chest pain, feelings of...
Panic disorder can be categorized into the nonrespiratory or the respiratory subtypes, the latter comprising dyspnea, shortness of breath, chest pain, feelings of suffocation, and paresthesias. Doxapram is an analeptic capable of inducing panic attacks with respiratory symptoms in individuals diagnosed with the disorder; however, its neuroanatomical targets and its effects on experimental animals remain uncharacterized. One of the brain regions proposed to trigger panic attacks is the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG). Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of doxapram in Fos (c-Fos) protein expression in the PAG and characterized its cardiorespiratory and behavioral effects on the elevated T maze and in the conditioned place aversion (CPA) paradigms. Doxapram increased Fos expression in different columns of the PAG, increased respiratory frequency, decreased heart rate, and increased arterial pressure when injected via intravenous route. Alprazolam, a panicolytic benzodiazepine, injected via intraperitoneal route, decreased respiratory frequency, whereas URB597, an anandamide hydrolysis inhibitor injected via intraperitoneal route, was ineffective. Doxapram injected via intraperitoneal route induced an anxiogenic-like effect in the elevated T-maze model; however, it failed to induce CPA. This study suggests that the cardiorespiratory and behavioral effects of doxapram in rodents serve as an experimental model that can provide insights into the neurobiology of panic attacks.
Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Alprazolam; Animals; Benzamides; Carbamates; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Disease Models, Animal; Doxapram; Male; Maze Learning; Panic Disorder; Periaqueductal Gray; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Rats, Wistar
PubMed: 33136614
DOI: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000594 -
CNS Drug Reviews 2006A number of life-threatening clinical disorders may be amenable to treatment with a drug that can stimulate respiratory drive. These include acute respiratory failure... (Review)
Review
A number of life-threatening clinical disorders may be amenable to treatment with a drug that can stimulate respiratory drive. These include acute respiratory failure secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, post-anesthetic respiratory depression, and apnea of prematurity. Doxapram has been available for over forty years for the treatment of these conditions and it has a low side effect profile compared to other available agents. Generally though, the use of doxapram has been limited to these clinical niches involving patients in the intensive care, post-anesthesia care and neonatal intensive care units. Recent basic science studies have made considerable progress in understanding the molecular mechanism of doxapram's respiratory stimulant action. Although it is unlikely that doxapram will undergo a clinical renaissance based on this new understanding, it represents a significant advance in our knowledge of the control of breathing.
Topics: Animals; Doxapram; History, 20th Century; Humans; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory System Agents
PubMed: 17227289
DOI: 10.1111/j.1527-3458.2006.00236.x -
Pediatric Pulmonology Jun 2022This study aimed to evaluate the change in the waveform pattern of the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) following the administration of doxapram in extremely...
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the change in the waveform pattern of the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) following the administration of doxapram in extremely preterm infants ventilated with neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA).
STUDY DESIGN
We conducted this retrospective cohort study in our neonatal intensive care unit between November 2019 and September 2021. The study participants were extremely preterm infants under the gestational age of 28 weeks who were ventilated with NAVA and administered doxapram. We collected the data of the Edi waveform pattern and calculated the proportion. To analyze the change in the proportion of the Edi waveform pattern, we compared the proportion of the data for 1 h before and after doxapram administration.
RESULTS
Ten extremely preterm infants were included. Almost all the patients' respiratory condition improved after doxapram administration. The ventilatory parameters-Edi peak, Edi minimum, peak inspiratory pressure, time in backup ventilation, and number of switches to backup ventilation-did not change significantly. However, the proportion of phasic pattern significantly increased (before: 46% vs. after: 72%; p < 0.05), whereas the central apnea pattern significantly decreased after doxapram administration (before: 31% vs. after: 8.3%; p < 0.05). The proportion of irregular low-voltage patterns tended to decrease, albeit with no significant changes.
CONCLUSION
Our results indicated that the proportion of Edi waveform patterns changed following doxapram administration. Edi waveform pattern analysis could be a sensitive indicator of effect with other intervention for respiratory conditions.
Topics: Diaphragm; Doxapram; Humans; Infant; Infant, Extremely Premature; Infant, Newborn; Interactive Ventilatory Support; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35274498
DOI: 10.1002/ppul.25889 -
Anaesthesia Dec 1991
Topics: Anesthesia Recovery Period; Doxapram; Humans; Shivering
PubMed: 1781559
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1991.tb09954.x