Dopram

Dopram acts as a ventilatory stimulant and Dopram Injection is used following anaesthesia to stimulate ventilation in the post-operative period as an aid to the reduction of post-operative pulmonary complications, and to permit the use of effective doses of narcotic analgesics without associated problems of ventilatory depression. Dopram Injection is also used to increase CNS arousal and spontaneous respiratory activity from inhalational anaesthesia when this would be beneficial.

Posology

Adults and Elderly:

The recommended dosage is 1.0 to 1.5mg/kg body weight, administered over a period of 30 seconds or more, which may be repeated at one hour intervals, if necessary.

Paediatric population: Not recommended.

Hepatic impairment:

There are no studies to support dosage recommendations in patients with hepatic impairment. However, as Dopram is metabolized primarily by liver it should be used with care in patients with hepatic dysfunction.

Renal impairment:

There are no studies to support dosage recommendations in patients with renal impairment.

Method of administration

Dopram Injection is recommended for intravenous use only.

1.

2. Severe hypertension

3. Status asthmaticus

4. Coronary artery disease

5. Epilepsy and other convulsive disorders

6. Cerebral oedema

7. Cerebrovascular accident

8. Hyperthyroidism /Thyrotoxicosis

9. Physical obstruction of the respiratory tract, or conditions resulting in restriction of chest wall, muscles of respiration or alveolar expansion.

10. Head injury

11. Proven/suspected pulmonary embolism

1. Dopram should be administered concurrently with oxygen to patients with severe irreversible airways obstruction or severely decreased lung compliance, due to the increased work of breathing in these patients.

2. In patients presenting with bronchoconstriction, Dopram should always be used in conjunction with β-adrenoceptor bronchodilator drugs in order to reduce the amount of respiratory effort.

3. As Dopram is metabolised primarily by the liver, use with care in patients with hepatic dysfunction.

4. Dopram should be administered cautiously to patients receiving sympathomimetic agents since an additive pressor effect may occur.

5. Dopram should be used with great care in patients who are being treated concurrently with monoamine oxidase inhibiting drugs. Animal studies have shown that the action of Dopram is potentiated after pre-treatment with a MAOI.

6. In patients who have received anaesthetics known to sensitize the myocardium to catecholamines, such as halothane, cyclopropane, and enflurane, initiation of Dopram therapy should be delayed for at least 10 minutes following discontinuance of anaesthesia, since an increase in adrenaline release has been noted with Dopram administration.

7. The respiratory stimulant effect of Dopram may not outlast the residual effects of the depressant drugs. Since respiratory depression may recur after stimulation with Dopram, the patient should be closely monitored until fully alert for ½ to 1 hour. Dopram may temporarily mask the residual effects of curare-type muscle relaxant drugs.

8. Dopram should be administered with caution in patients with hypermetabolic states such as phaeochromocytoma.

9. If sudden hypertension or dyspnoea develops, Dopram should be stopped.

10. Monitoring of the blood pressure and deep tendon reflexes is recommended to prevent overdosage.

11. To avoid side effects, it is advisable to use the minimum effective dosage.

12. Dopram should not be used in conjunction with mechanical ventilation.

13. An adequate airway is essential and airway protection should be considered since Dopram may stimulate vomiting.

14. Dopram should be used with caution in hypertensive patients and in patients with impaired cardiac reserve

15. The administration of this agent does not diminish the need for continuous monitoring of all aspects of patient response, including frequent analysis of arterial-blood gases.

Dopram has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Adverse reactions listed by System Organ Class. The following adverse reactions have been observed at the frequencies defined using the following convention:

Not known: cannot be estimated from the available data.

Nervous system disorders:

Dopram may produce adverse effects due to general stimulation of the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems: pyrexia, sweating, flushing, salivation, headache, dizziness, hyperactivity, confusion, hallucinations, perineal warmth, muscle fasciculation, muscle spasticity, clonus, bilateral babinski, increased deep tendon reflexes and convulsions have been reported.

Dopram can induce a significant decrease in maximal cerebral blood flow velocity.

Cardiac disorders:

Cardiovascular effects have been observed and include a moderate increase in blood pressure, arrhythmias, sinus tachycardia, bradycardia and extrasystoles, chest pain or chest tightness.

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:

Respiratory problems such as dyspnoea, cough, bronchospasm and laryngospasm may occur.

Gastrointestinal Disorders:

Effects on the gastrointestinal tract such as nausea and vomiting may also occur.

Renal and Urinary disorders:

Urinary retention, stimulation of urinary bladder with spontaneous voiding.

Paediatric Population:

Dopram is not recommended in children. The following adverse reactions have been reported in off-licence use of Dopram in preterm neonates and infants:

- neurodevelopmental delay

- significant prolongation of QT interval, in some cases associated with atrioventricular block.

- bleeding in stools, abdominal distension and necrotizing enterocolitis and multiple gastric perforations

- early teeth eruption involving lower central incisors

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Symptoms

Overdosage may result in hypertension, tachycardia and other arrhythmias; skeletal muscle hyperactivity including enhanced deep tendon reflexes, and dyspnoea. Serious symptoms of overdosage may include clonic and generalized seizures.

Management

Intravenous diazepam, phenytoin, and short-acting barbiturates, oxygen and resuscitative equipment should be readily available to manage overdoses.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Respiratory stimulants

ATC code: R07AB01

Mechanism of action

The principal pharmacological action of Dopram is an increase in minute volume produced primarily by an increase in tidal volume and to a lesser extent by changes in respiratory rate.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Neuropharmacological studies have shown that the primary sites of action of Dopram are the peripheral carotid chemoreceptors. It is considered that this site of action of Dopram is responsible for its relative specificity of action; it is only following large doses of Dopram hydrochloride that non-specific central nervous system stimulation occurs.

Following an I.V. bolus injection of 1.5mg/kg Dopram, the plasma concentration of Dopram declined in a multi-exponential manner. The mean half-life from 4 - 12 hours was 3.4 hours (range 2.4 - 4.1 hours). The mean apparent volume of distribution was 1.5 litres/kg and the whole body clearance was 370ml/min. Renal clearance was not related to urine flow or pH, but increased progressively with time over the first 12 hours. The mean 0 - 24 hour renal clearance values for individual volunteers ranged from 1.1 to 14.1ml/min. The rate of decline of plasma concentration appeared to decrease after 12 hours. Dopram was extensively metabolised, and less than 5% of an I.V. dose was excreted unchanged in the urine in 24 hours.

Reproduction studies have been performed in rats at doses up to 1.6 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the foetus associated with the use of Dopram. Acute toxicity studies in several animal species suggest impairment of the central nervous system at high doses.

Dopram is incompatible with alkaline solutions such as aminophylline, frusemide and thiopentone sodium.

Not applicable