Cardiohemodynamic and respiratory effects of eptazocine, a new analgesic agent, were studied and compared with those of pentazocine and butorphanol in anesthetized dogs. Eptazocine (1 mg/kg, i.v.) increased the heart rate (HR), left ventricular dP/dt (LVdP/dt) and cardiac output (CO), and scarcely affected the blood pressure (BP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), right atrial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. On the other hand, eptazocine (3 mg/kg, i.v.) decreased BP, LVdP/dt, CO and LVEDP and did not influence the pulmonary circulation. Pentazocine (1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg, i.v.) increased BP, LVdP/dt and CO, while HR was not altered. Pentazocine also increased PAP. Butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg and 0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) decreased BP, HR and LVdP/dt, while other hemodynamic parameters were not changed. In spontaneously breathing anesthetized dogs, eptazocine (1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg, i.v.) caused a decrease of respiratory minute volume. The fall in PO2 and pH, and a rise in PCO2 were simultaneously observed in blood gas analysis. These respiratory depressant effects of eptazocine were short-lasting, and they were less potent than those of pentazocine. Butorphanol scarcely affected the respiration. These results suggest that eptazocine has different cardiohemodynamic effects than other analgesics and produces mild respiratory depression.