Slow breathing. Unusual sleepiness. These can be silent signs of a serious medication risk. Yet many providers don't know what to watch for. This article explains respiratory depression, who's at risk, and what your team needs to do.
Slow breathing and difficulty can be signs of respiratory depression from medicines.
What Is Respiratory Depression?
Respiratory depression means slow and shallow breathing. It can happen when people take certain medicines. This is serious. It needs to be noticed and managed quickly.
Some medicines are important. They help people. But they can also slow breathing. The problem is when support workers, doctors, and families do not talk to each other about the risk.
Normal breathing is:
- Easy
- Regular
- Steady
Breathing problems means:
- Slow breathing
- Shallow breathing (not very deep)
- Hard to get a good breath
Which Medicines Can Cause This?
Some medicines are more likely to cause breathing problems:
Medicines for anxiety or seizures
Like diazepam. These are important medicines. But they can slow breathing.
Medicines for pain
Like codeine or oxycodone. These help pain. But they can also slow breathing.
Multiple medicines that affect the brain
If someone takes more than one of these types of medicine, the risk gets bigger.
These medicines are important. They help people. The issue is not the medicines themselves. The issue is when doctors, support workers, and families do not talk to each other about the risk. We need to work together to keep people safe.
Who Is at Risk?
Some people need to be more careful:
- People who are older
- People with breathing problems already
- People who are overweight
- People who sleep poorly
- People taking more than one medicine
- People taking pain medicine and anxiety medicine together
If you support people on these medicines, watch carefully. Know who is at higher risk in your service.
What Should We Watch For?
Tell a doctor or support worker if you see:
- Breathing that is very slow
- Breathing that is very shallow
- Very sleepy all the time
- Hard to wake up
- Confusion
- Looking blue in the face or lips
- Not alert or responsive
These signs need help from a doctor. Do not wait.
What Should You Do?
If you see breathing problems:
- Tell a support worker or carer
- Tell the doctor
- Ask for a medicine check
- A pharmacist can look at all medicines
- Make sure the person is safe
Support workers see people every day. You notice things. If you tell a doctor what you see, they can make better decisions about medicine. Let us work together.
If It Is an Emergency
Call an ambulance if:
- The person cannot breathe
- The person is unconscious
- The person cannot wake up
- The person's face or lips are blue
Call: 000
Tell them about the medicines the person is taking.
The Story Doesn't Have to Be an Emergency
The story can be a support worker noticing change and raising it early.
A pharmacist reviewing medicines and finding a safer combination.
A family member asking good questions.
A provider who knows what to watch for and acts.
That is the story we want to tell.
Get the Easy Read Guide
This information is also available in an easy read format. Perfect for sharing with participants, families, and support workers.
Download Easy Read PDFResources
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: Practice Alert. Medicines that can cause respiratory depression (May 2022)
- NPS MedicineWise: Medicine information and reviews
- Council for Intellectual Disability: Me and my medication guide
- Healthdirect: Safe use of mental health medications
