How do you reverse respiratory depression?

Answer 1

depends on the cause.
Narcan will reverse resp. depression caused by opiate type pharmaceutical agents. Oxygen can cause respiratory depression if given to a COPD patient. Epinephrine might reverse resp. depression depending on the cause. Artificial ventilation is treatment used mainly to maintain effective ventilation until the cause is discovered and treated, or the cause just wears off and normal respiration comes back.

Answer 2

Respiratory depression occurs as a result of inhibiting the respiratory centre in the hypothalamus. Respiration is usually under unconcious control. There are many etiological causes of respiratory depression. These include drug overdose, such as paracetamol, aspirin, general anaesthetics, local anaesthatics, NMBAs and such.

To reverse this, you have to remove the agent that is the cause. Usually a patient is put under artifical ventilation when there is respiratory depression. Once the insulting agent is removed from the body, You can breath on your own again.