Abstract

RESPÄ°RATORY DEPRESSÄ°ON ASSOCÄ°ATED WÄ°TH THE USE OF OPÄ°OÄ°DS AND AMPHETAMÄ°NES

Dr. Metin Kilinç*, Dr. Irem Akin Sen and Prof. Dr. Hülya Sungurtekin

Abstract

Opioids play an important role in pain management, and there is increasingly widespread use. Despite this extensive use, it must not be forgotten that these drugs have significant side-effects. Opiates have central and peripheral effects. The central effects reduce the perception of pain by stimulating opiate receptors (analgesic effect), reduce mental activity (sedative effect), eliminate anxiety (tranquilising effect), improve mood (euphoric effect), inhibit the respiratory and cough centres (respiratory depressant and antitussive effect) and cause the development of tolerance and dependence. There is increasing abuse of opioid analgesics among healthcare personnel and the reason for this could be the ease of accesibility. The case is here presented of a 23-year old nurse who was intubated following respiratory arrest while on duty in our clinic. Substance use was determined and the patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for close monitoring and treatment. With improvement in the clinical condition, the patient was transferred on the 2nd day to the Alcohol and Substance Dependence Treatment Centre (AMATEM).

Keywords: Respiratory depression, opioid, miosis.