Fentanyl depression of respiration: Comparison with heroin and morphine

Fentanyl overdose deaths have reached "epidemic" levels in North America. Death in opioid overdose invariably results from respiratory depression. In the present work, we have characterized how fentanyl depresses respiration, and by comparing fentanyl with heroin and morphine, the active breakdown product of heroin, we have sought to determine the factors, in addition to high potency, that contribute to the lethality of fentanyl.Respiration...