levorphanol

medtigo

levorphanol

Brand Name :

levo dromoran

Synonyms :

levorfanol, levorphanolum

Class :

Opioid analgesics

Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum Content

It is a potent opioid agonist with a high affinity for the mu-opioid receptor. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain and has a longer duration of action than other opioids. The mechanism of action of levorphanol involves binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) and inhibiting the transmission of pain signals. It also produces central nervous system depression, including sedation and respiratory depression. It can be beneficial in managing pain and dangerous if the drug is not used carefully.

The spectrum of activity of levorphanol is like other opioid agonists, including morphine and hydromorphone. It is effective in relieving moderate to severe pain and has been used in various settings, including postoperative pain, cancer pain, and acute traumatic pain. However, like other opioids, levorphanol has the potential for abuse and dependence, and it should be used with caution in patients with a history of substance abuse.

Dosing & Uses

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency defined:

>10%

Hypoventilation

Pruritis

Dizziness

Nausea

1-10%

Constipation

Disturbance of consciousness

Hypotension

Vomiting

Disturbance in mood

<1%

Cardiac arrest

Palpitations

Bradyarrhythmia

Apnea

Cardiac dysrhythmia

Tachyarrhythmia

Black Box Warning

Contraindication / Caution

There are several contraindications and cautions for the use of levorphanol. Some of the most important ones include the following:

Allergy: It is contraindicated in patients allergic to the drug or its ingredients.
Respiratory depression can cause respiratory depression, which can be dangerous, especially in patients with pre-existing respiratory problems or in patients taking other medications that can also cause respiratory depression.
Head injury: It should be used with caution in patients with head injury or increased intracranial pressure because it can increase the risk of respiratory depression and sedation.
Liver or kidney problems: It is metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. It should be used cautiously in patients with liver or kidney problems because they may be more prone to adverse effects.
Pregnancy: It should be used with caution in pregnant women because it may cause harm to the foetus.
Substance abuse: It has the potential for abuse and dependence and should be used with caution in patients with a history of substance abuse.
Geriatric patients: It should be used cautiously in elderly patients because they may be more sensitive to the drug’s effects.

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy consideration: B, D

Lactation: Excretion of the drug in human breast milk is unknown

Pregnancy category:

Category A: well-controlled and Satisfactory studies show no risk to the fetus in the first or later trimester.

Category B: there was no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal studies, and there were not enough studies on pregnant women.

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.

Category D: adequate data available with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.

Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category

Pharmacology

Levorphanol is a potent opioid agonist that is used for the management of moderate to severe pain. It acts by binding to and activating opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), which leads to the inhibition of pain transmission and the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.

Pharmacodynamics

levorphanol binds to mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) and inhibits the transmission of pain signals. It also produces central nervous system depression, including sedation and respiratory depression.

levorphanol has a high affinity for the mu-opioid receptor, which makes it a potent analgesic. It is effective in relieving moderate to severe pain and has been used in various settings, including postoperative pain, cancer pain, and acute traumatic pain.

levorphanol has a longer duration of action than other opioids, which allows for once- or twice-daily dosing. However, this also means that the drug may have a longer duration of action on the body’s systems, including the CNS and respiratory system, which can increase the risk of adverse effects.

Like other opioids, levorphanol has the potential for abuse and dependence and should be used with caution in patients with a history of substance abuse. It can also cause serious side effects, including respiratory depression, constipation, and sedation.

Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics refers to how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body. The pharmacokinetics of levorphanol is as follows:

Absorption

It is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration, with an oral bioavailability of about 50%. The intravenous formulation has a rapid onset of action.

Distribution

It is widely distributed throughout the body, with a volume of distribution of about 4 L/kg. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and is found in high concentrations in the CNS.

Metabolism

It is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. The primary metabolite of levorphanol is levorphanol-3-glucuronide, which also has opioid agonist activity and contributes to the drug’s pharmacological effects.

Elimination/Excretion

It is excreted primarily by the kidneys, with about 70% of the drug excreted in the urine. The half-life of levorphanol is about 12-24 hours, which is longer than that of other opioids, such as morphine.levorphanol has a relatively long half-life, which allows for once- or twice-daily dosing.

Adminstartion

levorphanol is available in oral and injectable forms. The usual oral dose of levorphanol is 2-4 mg every 4-6 hours as needed for pain.

It is essential to take levorphanol precisely as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Please do not take a larger dose or take it more often than directed. Do not stop taking levorphanol suddenly, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms. If you need to stop taking levorphanol, your healthcare provider will gradually reduce your dose to avoid withdrawal.

It would be best if you did not drink alcohol while taking levorphanol, as this can increase the risk of side effects. It is also important to tell your healthcare provider about all your medications, as levorphanol may interact with other medications.

Do not crush or chew extended-release tablets. Doing so can cause the entire dose to be released at once, increasing the risk of side effects.

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet

Generic Name: levorphanol

Pronounced: (lee-VOR-fa-nole)

Why do we use levorphanol?

Levorphanol is a prescription opioid pain medication to manage moderate to severe pain. It is used to treat pain not relieved by other pain medications. Levorphanol is a strong pain medication that is usually only used when other pain medications are ineffective.

Some possible conditions that may be treated with levorphanol include the following:

Chronic pain, such as from cancer or nerve damage
Acute pain, such as from surgery or injury
Pain associated with specific medical procedures, such as childbirth or kidney stone removal

It is important to note that levorphanol is only a short-term treatment option and should not be used for long-term pain management

levorphanol

No data available for drug.

DRUG INTERACTION

levorphanol

&

levorphanol +

Contraindicated

Serious Use Alternative

Monitor Closely

Minor

levorphanol

No data available for drug.

DRUG INTERACTION

levorphanol

&

levorphanol +

Contraindicated

Serious Use Alternative

Monitor Closely

Minor

medtigo

levorphanol

Brand Name :

Synonyms :

Class :

Action and Spectrum

Dosing & Uses

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Black Box Warning

Contraindication / Caution

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pharmacology

Adminstartion

Patient Information Leaflet

CONTACT INFORMATION

ADDRESS

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