Dermorphin Blocks Apneic Response to Intravenous Bolus Injection of Fentanyl

Rapid intravenous injection of overdose fentanyl triggers an immediate sustained apnea (ventilatory arrest), leading to sudden death within a few minutes in humans. Results in this study demonstrate that dermorphin pretreatment prevents the immediate apnea likely via desensitization of mu-opioid receptors in rats.