Figure 11. Opioid-associated sleep-disordered breathing.

This 10-minute epoch shows different breathing disorders associated with opioids. In regard to the pattern of breathing, it is quite ataxic; central apneas are of variable duration and breaths out of apnea could be of variable tidal volume and airflow. This pattern is quite distinct and contrasts with that of Hunter-Cheyne-Stokes breathing (Figures 9 and 10).