Doxapram 1g/500ml infusion bags
A central respiratory stimulant with a brief duration of action.
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MHRA alerts for Doxapram
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Doxapram
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Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Doxapram
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2 branded products available
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
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Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. Shortage and safety information sourced from MHRA drug safety updates (gov.uk, Crown Copyright under OGL v3.0).
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
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SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 6 · Randomised trials: 9 · Trials: 3 · 1973–2026
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
J. Poppe, R. Flint, A. Smits, et al.
Trials, 2023
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
- Doxapram
- Caffeine
Timothy H. Hyndman, Shelby Fretwell, R. S. Bowden, et al.
Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics, 2023
- Doxapram
- Cesarean Section
- Animals, Newborn
Jane Canning, J. Hannam, Julena Ardern, et al.
Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association, 2025
- Apnea
- Infant, Premature, Diseases
- Doxapram
Storm KK, Flint RB, Onland W, et al.
2025
- Apnea
- Infant, Premature, Diseases
- Caffeine
IntroductionCaffeine is the registered pharmacologic treatment for apnea of prematurity and is extensively used in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) based on evidence from randomized controlled trials. This study aimed to describe the clinical use of caffeine based on real-world data, hypothesizing a divergence from the registered dosing regimen.MethodsA retrospective analysis included infants born before 30 weeks of gestation, admitted to the NICU of the Erasmus MC Rotterdam from 2018 to 2021. Exclusion criteria comprised infants admitted after postnatal day 2, those not receiving caffeine during admission, patients admitted for less than 24 h, those who spent less than 24 h on non-invasive support, and cases lacking medication data. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients receiving an average caffeine dose higher than registered on the label.ResultsA total of 451 patients with a median gestational age of 28+0 weeks (IQR 26+2-29+0) and birthweight of 1,015 g (IQR 800-1,218) were included. Of these, 402 infants (89%) received an average daily caffeine dosage exceeding the registered dose range. The median caffeine maintenance dose per patient was 5.3 mg/kg/day (IQR 5.0-5.8), with additional therapy (mini-load, doxapram, or intubation) needed in 318 patients (71%).ConclusionThis study highlights the frequent use of higher caffeine dosages in clinical practice than registered and recommended based on long-term safety data. Despite these high dosages and frequent mini-loads, 28% of patients still required additional treatment with doxapram and/or invasive mechanical ventilation, indicating the need for individualized dosing strategies or alternative therapies.
Abstract licence: CC BY
C. Yost
CNS drug reviews, 2006
Abraham Peliowski, N. Finer
The Journal of pediatrics, 1990
E. Greze, M. Benard, I. Hamon, et al.
Pediatric Drugs, 2016
Fathi M, Massoudi N, Nooraee N, et al.
2020
- Obesity, Morbid
- Bariatric Surgery
- Doxapram
Koh WU, Park HS, Kim HJ, et al.
2021
- Obesity, Morbid
- Neuromuscular Blockade
- Bariatric Surgery
Iijima S
2023
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a critical gastrointestinal emergency with substantial morbidity and mortality risks, especially for very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, and unclear multifactorial pathophysiology. Whether common treatments for VLBW infants increase the NEC risk remains controversial. Indomethacin (utilized for patent ductus arteriosus) offers benefits but is concerning because of its vasoconstrictive impact on NEC susceptibility. Similarly, corticosteroids used to treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia may increase vulnerability to NEC by compromising immunity and altering the mesenteric blood flow. Histamine-2 receptor blockers (used to treat gastric bleeding) may inadvertently promote NEC by affecting bacterial colonization and translocation. Doxapram (used to treat apnea) poses a risk of gastrointestinal disturbance via gastric acid hypersecretion and circulatory changes. Glycerin enemas aid meconium evacuation but disrupt microbial equilibrium and trigger stress-related effects associated with the NEC risk. Prolonged antibiotic use may unintentionally increase the NEC risk. Blood transfusions for anemia can promote NEC via interactions between the immune response and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Probiotics for NEC prevention are associated with concerns regarding sepsis and bacteremia. Amid conflicting evidence, this review unveils NEC risk factors related to treatments for VLBW infants, offers a comprehensive overview of the current research, and guides personalized management strategies, thereby elucidating this clinical dilemma.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
Not available
Mechanism
Doxapram produces respiratory stimulation mediated through the peripheral carotid chemoreceptors.
Food interactions
None known
Human targets
2 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Known interactions with other medicines. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 543 interactions
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:23169818 PMID:26919430 PMID:32499642 PMID:36195757 PMID:9312005
Changes ion selectivity and becomes permeable to Na(+) ions in response to extracellular acidification. Protonation of the pH sensor His-98 stabilizes C-type inactivation conformation likely converting the channel from outward K(+)-conducting, to inward Na(+)-conducting to nonconductive state .
PMID:22948150
Homo- and heterodimerizes to form functional channels with distinct regulatory and gating properties .
PMID:23169818 PMID:32499642
Allows K(+) currents with fast-gating kinetics important for the repolarization and hyperpolarization phases of action potentials (By similarity).
In cerebellar granule cells, heteromeric KCNK3:KCNK9 channel may hyperpolarize the resting membrane potential to limit intrinsic neuronal excitability, but once the action potential threshold is reached, it may support high-frequency action potential firing and increased neuronal excitability (By similarity). Dispensable for central chemosensory respiration i.e. breathing controlled by brainstem CO2/pH, it rather conducts pH-sensitive currents and controls the firing rate of serotonergic raphe neurons involved in potentiation of the respiratory chemoreflex. Additionally, imparts chemosensitivity to type 1 cells in carotid bodies which respond to a decrease in arterial oxygen pressure or an increase in carbon dioxide pressure or pH to initiate adaptive changes in pulmonary ventilation (By similarity).
In adrenal gland, contributes to the maintenance of a hyperpolarized resting membrane potential of aldosterone-producing cells at zona glomerulosa and limits aldosterone release as part of a regulatory mechanism that controls arterial blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis (By similarity). In brown adipocytes, mediates K(+) efflux that counteracts norepinephrine-induced membrane depolarization, limits Ca(2+) efflux and downstream cAMP and PKA signaling, ultimately attenuating lipid oxidation and adaptive thermogenesis (By similarity)
PMID:11042359 PMID:11431495 PMID:26919430 PMID:38630723
Changes ion selectivity and becomes permeable to Na(+) ions in response to extracellular acidification. Protonation of the pH sensor His-98 stabilizes C-type inactivation conformation likely converting the channel from outward K(+)-conducting, to inward Na(+)-conducting to nonconductive state .
PMID:22948150 PMID:38630723
Homo- and heterodimerizes to form functional channels with distinct regulatory and gating properties (By similarity) .
PMID:23169818 PMID:38630723
Allows K(+) currents with fast-gating kinetics important for the repolarization and hyperpolarization phases of action potentials (By similarity).
In granule neurons, hyperpolarizes the resting membrane potential to limit intrinsic neuronal excitability, but once the action potential threshold is reached, supports high-frequency action potential firing and increased neuronal excitability. Homomeric and/or heteromeric KCNK3:KCNK9 channels operate in cerebellar granule cells, whereas heteromeric KCNK1:KCNK9 enables currents in hippocampal dentate gyrus granule neurons (By similarity). Dispensable for central chemosensory respiration i.e. breathing controlled by brainstem CO2/pH, it rather conducts pH-sensitive currents and controls the firing rate of serotonergic raphe neurons involved in potentiation of the respiratory chemoreflex (By similarity).
In retinal ganglion cells, mediates outward currents that regulate action potentials in response to acidification of the synaptic cleft. Involved in transmission of image-forming and nonimage-forming visual information in the retina (By similarity). In adrenal gland, contributes to the maintenance of a hyperpolarized resting membrane potential of aldosterone-producing cells at zona glomerulosa and limits aldosterone release as part of a regulatory mechanism that controls arterial blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis (By similarity)
ATC R07AB01
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Doxapram
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
10198
ChemSpider
3044
BindingDB
50505297
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:6278
GeneCards
KCNK3
GenBank Gene Database
AF006823
GenBank Protein Database
2465542
Guide to Pharmacology
515
UniProt Accession
KCNK3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:6283
GeneCards
KCNK9
GenBank Gene Database
AF212829
GenBank Protein Database
7546843
UniProt Accession
KCNK9_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite:
- DrugBank 6.02024Recommended citationKnox C., Wilson M., Klinger C.M., et alDrugBank 6.0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Jan 552(D1):D1265-D1275
- DrugBank 5.02018Wishart D.S., Feunang Y.D., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank 5.0: a major update to the DrugBank database for 2018Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Nov 846(D1):D1074-D1082
- DrugBank 4.02014Law V., Knox C., Djoumbou Y., et alDrugBank 4.0: shedding new light on drug metabolismNucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jan 142(1):D1091-7
- DrugBank 3.02011Knox C., Law V., Jewison T., et alDrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugsNucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan39(Database issue):D1035-41
- DrugBank 2.02008Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets.Nucleic Acids Research2008 Jan36(Database issue):D901-6
- DrugBank 1.02006Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.Nucleic Acids Research2006 Jan 134(Database issue):D668-72