Conditions and symptoms
What Is Respiratory Depression? Slowed Breathing Explained
Respiratory depression · say it: RES-pih-ruh-tor-ee dih-PRESH-unAlso written: hypoventilation, slowed breathing, respiratory suppression
Short answer
Respiratory depression means breathing becomes too slow or too shallow. It is an emergency when severe and is a key opioid warning.
What it means
Respiratory depression means breathing has become too slow or too shallow to bring in enough oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Signs can include very slow breathing, extreme sleepiness, being hard to wake, or blue or grey lips. It is a medical emergency: someone with these signs needs urgent help straight away.
Labels for opioid pain medicines, benzodiazepines, some sleep medicines and other drugs that slow the brain warn about it. The risk is higher when starting, when the dose goes up, in older people or those with lung problems, and especially when these medicines are combined with each other or with alcohol. The warning is telling you not to mix them without medical advice.
It has nothing to do with mood. 'Depression' here means slowing down. It is also different from shortness of breath, where people breathe fast because they feel they cannot get enough air.
Where you may see it
- The boxed warning on opioid labels
- Benzodiazepine and sleep medicine labels
- Hospital observation charts and anaesthetic notes
📄 How it looks on a report
Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur. Monitor closely, especially upon initiation or following a dose increase.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It is not the mood condition depression. It means slowed breathing.
- It does not mean the medicine will cause it in everyone; the risk depends on dose, combinations and health.
- Feeling a bit drowsy is common, but being very hard to wake is not normal and needs urgent help.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Respiratory depression”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Respiratory depression”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Alprazolam
a benzodiazepine, a type of central nervous system medicine
- Clonazepam
a benzodiazepine, a type of medicine that slows activity in the central nervous system
- Diazepam
A benzodiazepine, a type of medicine that slows activity in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
- Diclofenac Sodium
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The FDA class is not listed on the label.
- Gabapentin
An antiepileptic (seizure) medicine. The label also describes it as a treatment for nerve pain after shingles.
- Lorazepam
A benzodiazepine, a type of anxiety medicine
- Morphine Sulfate
a strong prescription opioid pain medicine (the label describes it as an opioid agonist)
- Naproxen
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is a medicine that reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation
- Tramadol
an opioid pain medicine, also called an opioid analgesic
- Zolpidem Tartrate
a sleep medicine of the imidazopyridine class. The label describes it as a GABA A receptor positive modulator.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Respiratory depression” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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