Journal Article

Effect of sustained high buprenorphine plasma concentrations on fentanyl-induced respiratory depression: A placebo-controlled crossover study in healthy volunteers and opioid-tolerant patients

Gray, Frank, Heath, Amy, Strafford, Stephanie, Olofsen, Erik, Laffont, Celine M., van Velzen, Monique, Algera, Marijke Hyke, Groeneveld, Geert Jan, Dobbins, Robert, Heuberger, Jules A. A. C., Moss, Laurence M., Dahan, Albert, Niesters, Marieke

2022

Overview

Opioid-induced respiratory depression driven by ligand binding to mu-opioid receptors is a leading cause of opioid-related fatalities. Buprenorphine, a partial agonist, binds with high affinity to mu-opioid receptors but displays partial respiratory depression effects. The authors examined whether sustained buprenorphine plasma concentrations similar to those achieved with some extended-release injections used to treat opioid use disorder could reduce the frequency and magnitude of fentanyl-induced respiratory depression. In this two-period crossover, single-centre study, 14 healthy volunteers (single-blind, randomized) and eight opioid-tolerant patients taking daily opioid doses ≥90 mg oral morphine equivalents (open-label) received continuous intravenous buprenorphine or placebo for 360 minutes, targeting buprenorphine plasma concentrations of 0.2 or 0.5 ng/mL in healthy volunteers and 1.0, 2.0 or 5.0 ng/mL in opioid-tolerant patients. Upon reaching target concentrations, participants received up to four escalating intravenous doses of fentanyl. The primary endpoint was change in isohypercapnic minute ventilation (VE). Additionally, occurrence of apnea was recorded. Fentanyl-induced changes in VE were smaller at higher buprenorphine plasma concentrations. In healthy volunteers, at target buprenorphine concentration of 0.5 ng/mL, the first and second fentanyl boluses reduced VE by [LSmean (95% CI)] 26% (13-40%) and 47% (37-59%) compared to 51% (38-64%) and 79% (69-89%) during placebo infusion (p = 0.001 and < .001, respectively). Discontinuations for apnea limited treatment comparisons beyond the second fentanyl injection. In opioid-tolerant patients, fentanyl reduced VE up to 49% (21-76%) during buprenorphine infusion (all concentration groups combined) versus up to 100% (68-132%) during placebo infusion (p = 0.006). In opioid-tolerant patients, the risk of experiencing apnea requiring verbal stimulation following fentanyl boluses was lower with buprenorphine than with placebo (odds ratio: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.0 to 0.3; p = 0.001). Results from this proof-of-principle study provide the first clinical evidence that high sustained plasma concentrations of buprenorphine may protect against respiratory depression induced by potent opioids like fentanyl.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adult / Anesthesiology / Apnea / Biology and Life Sciences / Body mass index / Buprenorphine / Buprenorphine - administration & dosage / Buprenorphine - pharmacokinetics / Causes of / Cross-Over Studies / Delayed-Action Preparations / Development and progression / Drug addiction / Drug dosages / Drug overdose / Female / Fentanyl / Fentanyl - adverse effects / Health aspects / Healthy Volunteers / Humans / Infusions, Intravenous / Intravenous administration / Male / Mechanical ventilation / Medicine and Health Sciences / Middle Aged / Morphine / Mortality / Narcotics / Opioid receptors (type mu) / Opioid-Related Disorders - blood / Opioid-Related Disorders - drug therapy / Opioids / Patients / Placebos / Proof of Concept Study / Psychological aspects / Receptors / Respiration / Respiratory Insufficiency - blood / Respiratory Insufficiency - chemically induced / Respiratory Insufficiency - drug therapy / Respiratory tract diseases / Single-Blind Method / Substance abuse treatment / Suicides & suicide attempts / Ventilation / Young Adult