In medicine, hypoventilation (also known as respiratory depression) occurs when ventilation is inadequate (hypo means "below") to perform needed gas exchange. By definition it causes an increased concentration of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia) and respiratory acidosis.
It can be caused by medical conditions, such as stroke affecting the brain stem, by holding one's breath, or by drugs, typically when taken in overdose.
As a side effect of medicines...
more
In medicine, hypoventilation (also known as respiratory depression) occurs when ventilation is inadequate (hypo means "below") to perform needed gas exchange. By definition it causes an increased concentration of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia) and respiratory acidosis.
It can be caused by medical conditions, such as stroke affecting the brain stem, by holding one's breath, or by drugs, typically when taken in overdose.
As a side effect of medicines or recreational drugs, hypoventilation may become potentially life-threatening. Many different CNS depressant drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, GHB, sedatives and opiates produce respiratory depression when taken in large or excessive doses; however this is most commonly seen as a cause of death with opiates or opioids, particularly when they are combined with sedatives such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Strong opiates, (fentanyl, heroin, morphine, etc), barbiturates, and the benzodiazepine, temazepam, are notorious for...
less
