Effect on Respiration of Diazepam, Chloropromazine and Haloperidol in Patients with Chronic Airways Obstruction

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Abstract
The effect on respiration of diazepam, haloperidol and chlorpromazine in patients with chronic airways obstruction was studied on 10 patients by the modified rebreathing method of ventilatory response to CO2. The 2 parameters of the ventilatory response studied were: the slope expressed as litres/minute/mmHg CO2 and minute ventilation at a computed pCO2 [partial CO2 pressure] 57 mmHg (.ovrhdot.VE 57). A significant decrease in either of these parameters indicated respiratory depression. Following administration of 10 mg diazepam i.m. to 10 patients a significant depression of respiration was observed in 5 patients. Administration of 50 mg chlorpromazine i.m. to 8 patients significantly depressed respiration of 3 patients. A significant depression of respiration was not observed in any of the 10 patients given 5 mg haloperidol i.m. The lack of significant respiratory depression from an i.m. injection of 5 mg of haloperidol to patients with severe chronic airways obstruction probably makes it a safer drug, for the management of acute psychotic episodes in such patients, than 50 mg of chlorpromazine or 10 mg of diazepam given i.m.