Doxapram 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.
Doxapram acts as a ventilatory stimulant and is specifically indicated in the following situations: Acute Respiratory failure: 1. To stimulate ventilation in patients whose blood gas status or clinical condition suggests that severe carbon dioxide retention would occur during controlled oxygen therapy. 2. To stimulate ventilation in patients showing a progressive increase in PCO 2 with mental status changes during or after controlled oxygen therapy. Following anaesthesia 1. To stimulate ventilation in the post-operative period as an aid to the reduction of post-operative pulmonary complications 2. To permit use of effective doses of narcotic analgesics without associated problems of ventilatory depression.