Overview:
Naloxone is a drug that is used to stop the effects of an opioid overdose. It is called an opioid antagonist. In particular, Naloxone is used to stop opioid overdoses, which can cause dangerous depression in the central nervous and breathing systems. This lets the person who overdosed breathe normally again. Naloxone is a prescription drug that is not on a schedule, which means it is not addictive. Naloxone only works if there are opioids in the body. If there are no opioids in the body, the medicine has no effect. Emergency responders usually give Naloxone, but people with little training can also give it. This makes it perfect for treating overdoses in people who have been prescribed opioid painkillers or who use heroin or other opioids.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a group of drugs made from or look like substances found in the opium poppy plant. Opioids work in the brain to do a number of things, such as relieve pain. Opioid drugs are legal and illegal drugs used to treat pain. Some people use opioids because they make them feel good or high. Opioid drugs can lead to opioid use disorder or addiction (OUD).
What Are the Symptoms of Opioid Overdose?
The following are symptoms of an opioid overdose:
-
The person's face is abnormally pale, and their skin feels sweaty.
-
Their fingernails and lips are purple or blue.
-
They begin vomiting or making gurgling sounds.
-
They are unable to be roused or communicate, and their respiration or heartbeat slows or ceases.
What Is Naloxone?
Naloxone is a drug that has been approved to treat opioid overdoses and has the ability to reverse and prevent the effects of other opioids, such as heroin, morphine, and Oxycodone. When given to a patient showing signs of an opioid overdose, Naloxone is a short-term therapy with short-term effects. As a result, it is vital to seek medical attention as quickly as possible after delivering or receiving Naloxone.
How Does Naloxone Work?
Naloxone is a pure, competitive opioid antagonist with a high affinity for the mu-opioid receptor, allowing the effects of opioids to be reversed. The beginning of the effect varies depending on the method of administration. However, it can be as quick as one minute when administered intravenously (IV) or intraosseously (IO). It has a half-life ranging from 30 to 120 minutes, depending on the route of administration used, with IV being the quickest. In most cases of overdose, the reversal is seen within minutes. If no evidence of reversal is seen after administering 10 mg of Naloxone, co-ingestants such as tricyclic antidepressants, alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine, Methamphetamine, and club drugs must be considered.
What Are the Risk Factors for Opioid Overdose?
Anyone who uses an opioid runs the risk of overdosing. However, the following factors put one at a significantly increased risk:
-
Illegal use of opioids.
-
Consume a greater quantity of one’s opioid medication than is recommended.
-
Use opioids in conjunction with other medications or with alcohol.
-
Having a certain medical condition, such as sleep apnea, or having impaired Individuals with impaired kidney and liver function.
-
Individuals who have reached the age of 65 or older.
Is the Drug Naloxone Safe to Use?
The half-life of Naloxone is around 30 minutes. Thus, while painful, withdrawal symptoms are normally not life-threatening and generally do not last long. Naloxone can be the trigger for withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are generally not significant or life-threatening. The individual administering the Naloxone may also be at an elevated risk if they experience agitation after post-withdrawal symptoms have subsided after receiving the drug. It is possible that administering IV Naloxone will result in more severe withdrawal symptoms; however, these symptoms can be reduced by utilizing the lowest effective doses and titrating the dose.
Are There Any Side Effects of Using Naloxone?
As Naloxone can counteract the effects of opioids, its administration can bring on abrupt withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain; fever, sweating, body aches, and weakness; tremors or shivering; fast heart rate, pounding heartbeats, and increased blood pressure; goosebumps, shivering; runny nose, and yawning; or feeling nervous, restless, or irritable are all symptoms of an overactive nervous system.
In infants younger than four weeks of age, sudden withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening if they are not handled in the appropriate manner. Crying, stiffness, hyperactive reflexes, and seizures are all symptoms of this condition. If one is unsure how to provide this medication to an infant in the correct manner, one should call their pediatrician or seek emergency medical assistance.
What Instructions Should Be Followed While Giving Naloxone in Emergency Situations?
When it comes to the administration of Naloxone, the following instructions should be followed:
-
Be aware of the indications and manifestations of an opioid overdose.
-
Put in a call for rapid medical aid after making the call.
-
If the person stops breathing, one should conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if one has been taught to do so and it is safe for the patient to do so.
-
Check to see whether the person has a medical alert tag to determine if they are known to have an allergy to Naloxone.
-
Give the Naloxone to the individual (including when a potential allergy is unknown). The medication might be administered through injection or in the form of a nasal spray. Be sure to use the product in accordance with the directions provided by the manufacturer. It could take one to five minutes before one’s breathing returns to normal.
-
While one waits for medical assistance, one should keep an eye on how the patient is doing.
-
The effects of Naloxone might last anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes. The individual's symptoms may reappear due to the prolonged presence of opioids in their system.
-
It is possible that one will need a second dose.
-
Be ready for the possibility that the person will become combative. They will throw up or have diarrhea.
-
Always immediately call for professional medical aid when needed. A trained medical expert should monitor the individual's progress toward health.
-
If one chooses to administer the medication through injection, one should be informed of the potential dangers, including injuries caused by needlesticks and the spread of infectious diseases.
Conclusion:
Although Naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, there is little data to suggest that it can stop people from using illegal drugs in the first place. Therefore, it is very much necessary to create awareness among communities about these drugs and the harm that these drugs can cause.
