REVIEW

Naloxone in opioid poisoning: walking the tightrope

S F J Clarke¹, P I Dargan², A L Jones³

¹ Acting Consultant in Emergency Medicine, South Manchester University Hospital Trust, Manchester, UK
² Consultant Physician and Clinical Toxicologist
³ Consultant Physician and Clinical Toxicologist, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology, National Poisons Information Service (London), Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Simon F J Clarke
Acting Consultant in Emergency Medicine, South Manchester University Hospital Trust, Manchester, UK; sfjclarke{at}doctors.org.uk

Acute opioid intoxication and overdose are common causes of presentation to emergency departments. Although naloxone, a pure opioid antagonist, has been available for many years, there is still confusion over the appropriate dose and route of administration. This article looks at the reasons for this uncertainty and undertakes a literature review from which a treatment algorithm is presented.

Abbreviations: AWS, acute withdrawal symptoms

Keywords: naloxone; opioid; overdose; poisoning

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