Are thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and analog taltirelin viable reversal agents of opioid-induced respiratory depression?

Abstract

Opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) is a potentially life-threatening complication of opioid consumption. Apart from naloxone, an opioid antagonist that has various disadvantages, a possible reversal strategy is treatment of OIRD with the hypothalamic hormone and neuromodulator thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). In this review, we performed a search in electronic databases and retrieved 52 papers on the effect of TRH and TRH-analogs on respiration and their efficacy in the reversal of OIRD in awake and anesthetized mammals, including humans. Animal studies show that TRH and its analog taltirelin stimulate breathing via an effect at the preBötzinger complex, an important respiratory rhythm generator within the brainstem respiratory network. An additional respiratory excitatory effect may be related to TRH's analeptic effect. In awake and anesthetized rodents, TRH and taltirelin improved morphine- and sufentanil-induced respiratory depression, by causing rapid shallow breathing. This pattern of breathing increases the work of breathing, dead space ventilation, atelectasis, and hypoxia. In awake and anesthetized humans, a continuous infusion of intravenous TRH with doses up to 8 mg, did not reverse sufentanil- or remifentanil-induced respiratory depression. This is related to poor penetration of TRH into the brain compartment but also other causes are discussed. No human data on taltirelin are available. In conclusion, data from animals and human indicate that TRH is not a viable reversal agent of OIRD in awake or anesthetized humans. Further human studies on the efficacy and safety of TRH's more potent and longer lasting analog taltirelin are needed as this agent seems to be a more promising reversal drug.

• Authors: Marieke Hyke Algera, Joseph F Cotten, Monique van Velzen, Marieke Niesters, Martijn Boon, Daniel S Shoham, Kaye E Dandrea, Rutger van der Schrier, Albert Dahan
• Journal: Pharmacology research & perspectives (Pharmacol Res Perspect) Vol. 10 Issue 3 Pg. e00974 (06 2022) ISSN: 2052-1707 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35621218 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, British Pharmacological Society and American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Narcotic Antagonists
• Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
• Sufentanil

Topics

• Analgesics, Opioid (adverse effects)
• Animals
• Mammals
• Narcotic Antagonists
• Respiratory Insufficiency (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Sufentanil (adverse effects)
• Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (pharmacology)