The Effects of Intravenous Lorazepam Alone and with Meperidine on Ventilation in Man

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The respiratory effects of lorazepam (a 1, 4 benzodiazepine) were studied using a modified Read rebreathing technique in healthy adult males about to undergo elective surgery. Lorazepam 0.05 mg/kg (IV) produced an increase in slope and a shift to the left of the CO2 response curve. These effects were also detectable but of smaller magnitude when the same lorazepam dose (IV) was given with meperidine (IV). End‐expiratory CO2 (Peco2), which was significantly elevated in all drug groups, is not a sensitive indicator of either the time course or the degree of respiratory depression.