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. 2019 Dec 13;12:3299–3317. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S231948

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© 2019 Pergolizzi Jr and Raffa.

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Conceptual representation of buprenorphine’s ceiling effect on respiratory depression. Unlike the full μ-opioid receptor agonists fentanyl and morphine, buprenorphine exhibits a ceiling effect on respiratory depression.⁸⁴^,⁸⁵ The low incidence of buprenorphine-associated respiratory depression has been observed clinically.²⁶^,⁶⁰^,⁶¹^,⁶³