THE EFFECT OF CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE AND PETHIDINE, ALONE AND IN COMBINATION, ON THE RESPIRATORY RESPONSE TO CARBON DIOXIDE

The respiratory effects following the intravenous administrationof chlordiazepoxide (1 mg/kg) and pethidine (0.5 mg/kg), bothalone and as a mixture, were studied by means of carbon dioxidestimulus-response curves. Eight healthy adult volunteers demonstratedno statistically significant respiratory depression after receivingchlordiazepoxide. Pethidine alone caused depression for 2 hours,and in combination with chlordiazepoxide the duration was prolongedto 4 hours (the duration of the study period). ^*Preliminary presentation of these data was made at the 40thAnniversary Congress, Section of Anes-thesiology, Pan-AmericanMedical Association, May 1, 1965, Miami Beach, Florida. Present address: Karolinska Institute, Thoracic Clinic, Stockholm,Sweden.