Absence of respiratory depression in the new-born rat after maternal administration of etorphine by the sublingual route

Proceedings of the British Pharmacological Society

“…Like morphine it is addictive in monkeys (Deneau & Seevers, 1964), and can cause respiratory depression. Nevertheless, ultra-rapid upt ke without untoward side-effect after intramuscular or sublingual administration to rats (Blane, 1967) and dogs (Dobbs, Blane & Boura, 1969), combined with extensive experience of safety in a vast variety of species where etorphine in high dose is used as an immobilizing agent, indicated the desirability of a clinical trial to assess possible therapeutic utility.…”