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

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Summary

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

Abbreviations

opioid
opioid
opioid-induced respiratory depression
OIRD
buprenorphine
buprenorphine
opioid use disorder
OUD

Cited by (0)

This editorial accompanies: Mechanisms of respiratory depression induced by the combination of buprenorphine and diazepam in rats by Vodovar et al., Br J Anaesth 2022:128:584–595, doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.10.029