NALOXONE (Narcan®)

CLASS: narcotic antagonist

ACTION:

• Displaces opioids at opioid-occupied receptor sites in the CNS

• Competitively binds to opiate receptors, and prevents the binding of any other agonist, fully reverses opiate induced respiratory depression

INDICATIONS:

• overdose of narcotics or any indication of substance abuse that involves respiratory depression

• altered mental status, etiology unknown

• Code 500 with possibility of narcotic abuse or if patient is on prescribed narcotics

STANDARD PREP: 2 mg / 2 cc preloaded syringe

DOSAGE/ROUTE: See Hawaii S.O. - Coma = 05 mg increments up to 2 mg. If suspected Fentanyl or Carfentanyl OD, up to 8 mg.

PEDS DOSE:

• Communicate with BSP for orders

• 0.1 mg / kg to a max of 2 mg

SIDE EFFECT:

• may precipitate withdrawal symptoms with HTN, tachycardia, violent behavior; n & v, arrhythmias, seizures

PRECAUTIONS:

• Short duration - potential for rapid relapse of respiratory depression,

• May need to use very large doses with Darvon® overdose

• Some drugs it reverses:

  • heroin, MS, dilaudid, codeine, methadone, demerol, lomotil, Talwin, percodan

  • darvon, stadol, nubain, paregoric, darvocet