The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic within COVID-19 pandemic, and veterans are twice as likely to die from accidental overdose compared non-veterans. This article describes Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Rapid Naloxone Initiative, which aims prevent deaths among through (1) education naloxone distribution (OEND) VHA patients at risk for overdose, (2) VA Police naloxone...

Naloxone-induced noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (NCPE) is a scarcely reported side effect that can occur after naloxone administration. We present case of 46-year-old male who presented to the emergency department for further management an opioid overdose, developed acute hypoxic respiratory failure several doses naloxone. The rapid deterioration patient’s status required increased supplemental...

Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) comprises the partial mu-opioid receptor agonist buprenorphine in combination with the opioid antagonist naloxone in a 4 : 1 ratio. When buprenorphine/naloxone is taken sublingually as prescribed, the naloxone exerts no clinically significant effect, leaving the opioid agonist effects of buprenorphine to predominate. However, when buprenorphine/naloxone is pare...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The United States is experiencing an epidemic of opioid-related deaths. Naloxone, the drug of choice for reversing acute opioid overdose, is not routinely prescribed for outpatient use. The aims of this project were to improve naloxone awareness, increase naloxone prescribing, and prevent opioid overdoses. METHODS A naloxone counseling intervention was implemented in...

Abstract Introduction Naloxone use has increased in recent years response to the nation’s opioid crisis. Once only available health care professionals, it is now obtainable by prescription for persons at risk substance overdose and their families. Increasing its availability seen some as an “over-the-counter solution” problem. However, while naloxone been viewed relatively safe, with a low side...

Opioid overdose is a growing public health emergency in the United States. The antidote naloxone must be administered rapidly after opioid overdose to prevent death. Bystander or "take-home" naloxone programs distribute naloxone to opioid users and other community members to increase naloxone availability at the time of overdose. However, data describing the natural history of take-home naloxon...

BACKGROUND In patients undergoing colonoscopy, naloxone has vasodilative properties. However, it remains unclear whether this effect is mediated by central or peripheral mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these effects are mediated by an effect of naloxone on the central nervous system. METHODS Twenty dogs were chronically instrumented for measurement of hemodynamic ...

BACKGROUND As physicians have increased opioid prescribing, overdose deaths from pharmaceutical opioids have substantially increased in the United States. Naloxone hydrochloride (naloxone), an opioid antagonist, is the standard of care for treatment of opioid induced respiratory depression. Since 1996, community-based programs have offered overdose prevention education and distributed naloxone ...

Abstract Background Opioid related overdoses and overdose deaths continue to constitute an urgent public health crisis. The implementation of naloxone programs, such as ‘take-home naloxone’ (THN), has emerged a key intervention in reducing opioid deaths. These programs aim train individuals at risk witnessing or experiencing recognize respond with naloxone. Naloxone effectively reverses on phys...

Easy-to-use naloxone formulations are needed to help address the opioid overdose epidemic. The pharmacokinetics of i.v., i.m., and a new i.n. naloxone formulation (2 mg) were compared in six healthy volunteers. Relative to i.m. naloxone, geometric mean (90% confidence interval [CI]) absolute bioavailability of i.n. naloxone was modestly lower (55%; 90% CI, 43-70% vs. 41%; 90% CI, 27-62%), where...