Only your assessment will tell you for sure Healthcare Professional Version Joann Page RN Respiratory depression is a decrease in the rate or depth of respiration respiratory effort and decrease in level of alertness. The degree of sedation is a better indicator of respiratory depression than the respiratory rate. In the postoperative patient it means one thing and in the cancer patient something less acute. Opioids depress all phases of respiratory activity to some extent.
Respiratory depression becomes significant when intervention is needed.
Opioids interfere with carbon dioxide chemoreceptors in the medulla by a retaining of carbon dioxide. The increase in carbon dioxide levels does not stimulate an increase the respiratory rate thus the body is relying on less sensitive oxygen driven respiration-regulating mechanism. In the patient dealing with chronic pain they will develop a tolerance to the effects of the medication in the first few days. Respiratory depression may occur when the pain is relieved and is no longer a stimulant. With cancer patients the disease progression may be the depressant not the pain medication.