In some apneas, the respiratory drive is abnormal.

Significant physiologic changes in breathing take place during normal sleep related to alterations in respiratory drive and musculature.

The respiratory drive is so strong that even conscious efforts to hold one's breath do not overcome it.

In fact, it's how these drugs kill - by suppressing the respiratory drive.

General anesthetic agents, opioids, and neuromuscular-blocking drugs may diminish or even abolish the respiratory drive.

Irregular respirations occur when injury to parts of the brain interfere with the respiratory drive.

Transfer from field care to definitive care, where oxygen use can be carefully calibrated, typically occurs long before significant reductions to the respiratory drive.

Normal respiratory drive: after exhalation, the blood level of oxygen decreases and that of carbon dioxide increases.

(In normal individuals, carbon dioxide is the primary determinant of respiratory drive.)

I waited for the inevitable next effect of depressing the respiratory drive.