Respiratory acidosis can result from:  * Central nervous system(CNS) trauma,
 * Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary  Disease (COPD),
 * Drugs such as narcotics, anesthetics, hypnotics, and sedatives
 * Chronic metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensatory mechanisms
 * Neuromuscular disease, such as myasthenia gravis, Guillain- Barre` syndrome, and poliomyelitis
 * Airway obstruction
 * Severe Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
 * Extensive pneumonia
 * Large pneumothorax
 * Pulmonary edema
Prognosis depends on the severity of the underlying disturbance aswell as on the patient’s general clinical condition.

Symptoms: 

CNS effects include:
Restlessness
Confusion
Apprehension
Unnatural drowsiness (somnolence)
Motor disturbance (asterixis)

Cardiovascular effects include:
 * Possible tachycardia
 * hypertension
 * Possible atrial and ventricular dysrythmias 
 * In severe acidosis, possible hypotension with vasodilation(bounding pulse)

Treatment: 

Effected treatment aims to correct the underlying source of alveolarhypoventilation.
Treatment for underlying conditions includes:  * Bronchodilators,
 * Oxygen
 * Antibiotics/Drug therapy
 * Dialysis – to remove toxic drugs, and correction of metabolicalkalosis