Respiratory failure & ventilation
Effect of Paroxetine or Escitalopram Coadministered with Oxycodone versus Oxycodone Alone on Ventilation during Hypercapnia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors' conclusion
Both paroxetine and escitalopram, alone and coadministered with oxycodone, decrease hypercapnic ventilation after 21 days, suggesting that SSRIs may have a class effect on hypercapnic ventilation that persists with chronic use.
Study context
- Population
- Healthy participants22 (81%) completed
- Participants
- 27 participants
- Comparison
- Paroxetine or escitalopram vs placebo
- Primary endpoint
- Hyperoxic-hypercapnic ventilation (Duffin's rebreathing)
Methodological detailsdouble-blind, three-period crossover
- Double-blind
- Three-period crossover
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Hyperoxic-hypercapnic ventilation, SSRI + oxycodone vs oxycodone alone · day 21
Each group vs placeboMean difference, l/min (97.5% one-sided CI)P value
Paroxetine
−6.5(-∞ to −3.1)
P < 0.001Escitalopram
−5.5(-∞ to −2.1)
P = 0.001Further findings
| Outcome | Mean difference (l/min) (97.5% one-sided CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperoxic-hypercapnic ventilation, SSRI alone vs placebo · day 20Paroxetine vs Placebo · one-sided CI | −6.5 (-∞ to −2.1) | P = 0.003 | |
| Hyperoxic-hypercapnic ventilation, SSRI alone vs placebo · day 20Escitalopram vs Placebo · one-sided CI | −6.9 (-∞ to −2.5) | P = 0.002 | |
| −10−505Difference, l/min (linear scale) |
- Hyperoxic-hypercapnic ventilation, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) alone vs placebo: one-sided 97.5% CI
Original publication
Effect of Paroxetine or Escitalopram Coadministered with Oxycodone versus Oxycodone Alone on Ventilation during Hypercapnia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Anesthesiology. Published 18 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →