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Naloxone hydrochloride

Date last published:

Naloxone is a pure narcotic antagonist. It prevents or reverses the effects of opioids, including respiratory depression, sedation and hypotension.

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Newborn intensive care

Note the first corrective action for respiratory depression is to give effective positive pressure ventilation.

Dose and administration

  • 0.1mg/kg/dose IM (0.25ml/kg of 0.4 mg/ml concentration)¹.

  • May also be given IV, intratracheally or subcutaneously.

  • If no response to Naloxone during resuscitation review diagnosis².

Indications

  • Narcotic induced respiratory and CNS depression.

  • Narcotic overdose.

Contraindications and precautions

  1. Newborns of mothers who are known or suspected to be physically dependent on opioids. In such cases an abrupt and complete reversal of narcotic effects may precipitate an acute abstinence syndrome or seizures.

  2. Known or suspected naloxone hypersensitivity.

  3. Not indicated if infant shows no sign of respiratory depression.

  4. Has no effect on non-narcotic induced respiratory and CNS depression.

  5. Naloxone is an adjuvant therapy to customary resuscitation efforts for known narcotic induced respiratory depression (history of maternal narcotic administration within the past 4 hours). Other resuscitative measures such as maintenance of a free airway, artificial ventilation, cardiac massage and vasopressor agents should be employed as necessary.

  6. Caution in infants with tachycardia, congenital heart defects.

Clinical pharmacology

Naloxone is a pure narcotic antagonist. It prevents or reverses the effects of opioids, including respiratory depression, sedation and hypotension. Naloxone does not possess agonist properties and therefore does not produce respiratory depression, psychotomimetic affects or pupillary constriction. In the absence of opioids it exhibits essentially no pharmacological activity. Naloxone antagonises the opioid effects by competitive inhibition at the opioid receptor sites.

Following parenteral administration naloxone is rapidly distributed in the body. It is metabolised in the liver, primarily by glucuronide conjugation and excreted in the urine. When administered intravenously its onset of action is rapid (within 2 minutes); the onset of action is only slightly less rapid when it is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. The duration of action is dependent upon the dose and route of administration. Intramuscular administration produces a more prolonged effect than intravenous administration.

Naloxone has not been shown to produce tolerance nor to cause physical or psychological dependence. No short-term toxicity has been observed but long-term safety has not been investigated. There is no clinical experience with naloxone overdosage in humans.

Possible adverse effects

  • Abrupt reversal of narcotic depression may result in nausea, vomiting, sweating, tachycardia, increased blood pressure and tremulousness.

  • Tachycardia, hypertension.

  • Gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting).

  • Lethargy, tremors.

  • Elevated PTT.

Special precautions

  • Infants receiving naloxone in the delivery room because of narcotic induced respiratory depression require observation afterwards. This observation need not necessarily be on the neonatal unit. See Infants born to drug dependent mothers

  • The duration of naloxone antagonism may be less than the clearance of the opiate being antagonised. This should not be a problem with the intramuscular administration of naloxone. However, some babies may require a second dose of naloxone.

Management of Naloxone administration

Description

Clear solution 0.4 mg/ml in 2ml ampoules.

Prescription

All doses are charted on the stat page of the drug prescription chart.

Administration

Intramuscular Injection

The preferred route of administration is IM

Slow IV push

  • Dilution is not required.

  • Administer by slow IV push.

  • Filter prior to administration through a 5 micron filter.

  • Compatible with normal saline, 5% glucose and heparin. Incompatible with alkaline solutions. Very little information is available on other solution or drug compatibility.

  • Do NOT mix with other drugs, IV solutions, blood or blood products.

  • Flush with normal saline before and after administration of naloxone.

Observation and documentation

  • Observe for adverse reactions.

  • Observations as per NOC/NEWS chart.

  • Ensure resuscitation equipment is available.

  • Monitor for bleeding.

  • May transfer to a primary birthing unit after 6 hours of age and clinically stable.

Storage

  • Unopened store at room temperature.

  • Protect from excessive light.

  • Discard ampoule after use.

 

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