Propoxyphene in children with iatrogenic morphine dependence. 1983

J D Hasday, and M Weintraub

In four children with iatrogenic morphine sulfate tolerance and dependence, narcotic withdrawal was successfully accomplished using propoxyphene napsylate. The patients showed signs and symptoms typical of narcotic withdrawal, which resolved with morphine administration and increased during attempts to lower the daily morphine dose. Propoxyphene napsylate at total daily doses of 25 to 65 mg/kg, administered at four-hour intervals, allowed rapid reduction of the morphine dosage, with few withdrawal signs and symptoms, and lessened respiratory depression. This treatment enabled patients to be rapidly weaned from the respirator. One child experienced increasing lethargy and respiratory depression and responded to naloxone hydrochloride and a decrease in the dose of propoxyphene; another had transient agitation, which may have been related to high levels of propoxyphene. Our treatment used alternating doses of propoxyphene and morphine, which allowed the child to be morphine free after four days and narcotic free after nine days.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007049 Iatrogenic Disease Any adverse condition in a patient occurring as the result of treatment by a physician, surgeon, or other health professional, especially infections acquired by a patient during the course of treatment. Hospital-Acquired Condition,Condition, Hospital-Acquired,Conditions, Hospital-Acquired,Disease, Iatrogenic,Diseases, Iatrogenic,Hospital Acquired Condition,Hospital-Acquired Conditions,Iatrogenic Diseases
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008297 Male Males
D009021 Morphine Dependence Strong dependence, both physiological and emotional, upon morphine. Morphine Abuse,Morphine Addiction,Abuse, Morphine,Addiction, Morphine,Dependence, Morphine
D011431 Dextropropoxyphene A narcotic analgesic structurally related to METHADONE. Only the dextro-isomer has an analgesic effect; the levo-isomer appears to exert an antitussive effect. D-Propoxyphene,Darvon,Propoxyphene,Propoxyphene Hydrochloride,Propoxyphene Hydrochloride, (R*,R*)-(+-)-Isomer,Propoxyphene Hydrochloride, (R-(R*,R*))-Isomer,Propoxyphene Hydrochloride, (R-(R*,S*))-Isomer,Propoxyphene Hydrochloride, (S-(R*,R*))-Isomer,Propoxyphene Maleate, (+)-Isomer,Propoxyphene Phosphate, (S-(R*,S*))-Isomer,Propoxyphene Sulfate, (S-(R*,S*))-Isomer,D Propoxyphene,Hydrochloride, Propoxyphene
D012121 Respiration, Artificial Any method of artificial breathing that employs mechanical or non-mechanical means to force the air into and out of the lungs. Artificial respiration or ventilation is used in individuals who have stopped breathing or have RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY to increase their intake of oxygen (O2) and excretion of carbon dioxide (CO2). Ventilation, Mechanical,Mechanical Ventilation,Artificial Respiration,Artificial Respirations,Mechanical Ventilations,Respirations, Artificial,Ventilations, Mechanical
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

Related Publications

J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
October 1969, JAMA,
J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
May 1980, The Journal of clinical psychiatry,
J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
March 1984, Southern medical journal,
J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
December 1969, JAMA,
J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
September 1985, American family physician,
J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
December 1981, Postgraduate medicine,
J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
October 1974, The New England journal of medicine,
J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
January 1985, Revista paulista de medicina,
J D Hasday, and M Weintraub
May 1976, L'union medicale du Canada,
Copied contents to your clipboard!