Using low doses of dexmedetomidine to treat respiratory failure from fentanyl overdose
Official title: Treatment of Fentanyl Overdose-Induced Respiratory Failure by Low-Dose Dexmedetomidine
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-10701905 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a small amount of a brain medication called dexmedetomidine can help people breathe normally again after they've had trouble breathing from a fentanyl overdose.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $601,799 |
| NIH project number | 5R33HL156248-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10701905 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced respiratory failure due to fentanyl overdose.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to opioids or those with respiratory failure from causes other than opioid overdose may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how low doses of dexmedetomidine, a medication that acts on the brain, can help restore normal breathing in patients who have experienced respiratory failure due to fentanyl overdose. The approach involves understanding how fentanyl affects the body's ability to breathe and how dexmedetomidine can counteract these effects. Initially tested in animal models, the research aims to establish effective dosing strategies that can be applied in humans to prevent fatal outcomes from opioid overdoses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the mortality rate associated with fentanyl overdoses by improving respiratory function.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar approaches to manage opioid overdose, but this specific application of dexmedetomidine is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haouzi, Philippe a — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Haouzi, Philippe a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Using a simple breathing test to check lung function after kids’ acute respiratory failure
A study will test a child-friendly breathing method (oscillometry) to check how well lungs work after severe respiratory illness in kids.
-
Naloxone-DEXmedetomidine combo to calm methamphetamine agitation in polysubstance use
A study at Marshall University tests whether a naloxone and dexmedetomidine combination can safely and effectively reduce agitation in people acutely intoxicated with methamphetamine and other substances.
-
Financial hardship in acute respiratory failure patients and their family caregivers
This grant studies how money worries affect patients with acute respiratory failure and their family caregivers, aiming to improve outcomes for both sides.
-
Imaging how belly fat affects lung collapse in severe breathing failure
A hospital-based study will use CT scans and AI tools to understand how truncal fat distribution changes lung collapse and treatment response in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.
-
Understanding how to apply sepsis care guidelines in ICU patients with respiratory failure
A patient-friendly look at how hospitals can best use sepsis care bundles to save lives for people with breathing problems in the ICU.
-
Kindergarten readiness after early brain injury and ICU sedation
This study follows preschool-age children who had critical illness as babies or toddlers to see how early ICU sedation may relate to later school-readiness using kindergarten readiness scores.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.