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Editorial
. 2022 Mar;128(3):402-404.
doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.12.001. Epub 2022 Jan 5.

Buprenorphine: a treatment and cause of opioid-induced respiratory depression

Albert Dahan  1 , Maarten van Lemmen  2 , Simone Jansen  2 , Pieter Simons  2 , Rutger van der Schrier  2
Affiliations
Editorial

Buprenorphine: a treatment and cause of opioid-induced respiratory depression

Albert Dahan et al. Br J Anaesth. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Buprenorphine is a partial agonist at the mu opioid receptor. Due to its relatively low maximum effect on respiratory depression it is considered by some to be a safe opioid. But it can produce serious respiratory depression, particularly when combined with sedatives such as benzodiazepines.

Keywords: benzodiazepine; breathing; buprenorphine; opioid-induced respiratory depression; partial agonism.

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