Use of benzoctamine as sedative in patients with respiratory failure.

Benzoctamine (Tacitin) was given by mouth as night sedation to patients admitted to hospital with respiratory failure. Fourteen patients had chronic obstructive bronchitis and six had acute severe asthma. One patient with asthma needed intravenous sedation with benzoctamine. No adverse effects were observed, and there was no significant change of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC), or Pco(2) in any patient after benzoctamine. Nevertheless, further clinical experience of the drug is required before its use can be safely recommended in respiratory failure.