Talk:Doxapram
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In accordance with Wikipedia:WikiProject_Drugs naming policy, I propose we move this page to the INN doxapram. If you have any concern with this proposal, please discuss it on this page. Matt 16:12, 22 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Mechanism of action
[edit]The addition of a pharmocodynamic section would benefit this article greatly. It would allow the reader to better understand the mechanism of action of Doxapram.
Edited second sentence of introduction/summary on this page. It initially read: "Administered intravenously, doxapram stimulates the respiratory rate, leading to an increase in tidal volume." As a second sentence, this immediately led me to distrust the rest of the article. An increase in resp rate (RR) does not *cause* an increase in tidal volume (Vt); in fact, it can do the reverse. (Increased RR (or Vt) does lead to an increase in *minute* volume (unless it's offset by another effect), but that is not what the sentence was saying). I checked various sources to ascertain doxapram's effect on RR and Vt. The March '08 British National Formulary, and Rang & Dale's Pharmacology 6th Ed. (2008) were silent. Drugs.com [1] states the Vt increase is the primary effect, with RR increase taking a secondary role. As I did not want to change an introductory sentence on the basis of information from one other website (despite the weight of its source info (Physician's Desk Reference etc)), I also found a journal article on Doxapram in cats. [2]. This found an increase in both Vt and RR (amongst other effects). Clearly, one still cannot be causal to the other.
I therefore settled for not explicity stating that one had a greater increase than the other, but did place Vt first, so as to insinuate its greater importance. I retained the correct hyperlinks, and removed the cause/effect wording, which appears to stem from a misunderstanding of Vt versus RR. Please amend if I am incorrect (I'm new to editing Wikipaedia)! Shane Wilde (talk) 08:02, 5 January 2009 (UTC)