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Intranasal Naloxone for Treatment of Opioid Overdose

  • Chapter
Opiate Receptors and Antagonists

Part of the book series: Contemporary Neuroscience ((CNEURO))

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Abstract

In theory, intranasal (IN) naloxone should be effective and practical for the treatment of acute opioid overdose. To date, evaluation of its effectiveness has been limited, but what is known is promising with reports that it is effective and safe, can reduce the requirement for injected treatments and has comparable times to recovery with other routes of administration. Unfortunately, naloxone as it is currently manufactured is not ideal for IN administration, as effective doses require drug volumes in excess of recommended volumes for adequate nasal absorption. Further well-designed research is needed to confirm IN naloxone's effectiveness, adverse event profile and utility. If effectiveness and safety can be confirmed, wider distribution of naloxone treatment to community workers, family and peers may be feasible, with the potential to save lives.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Western Hospital and The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, 3021, Australia

    Anne-Maree Kelly

  2. Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3021, Australia

    Debra Kerr

  3. Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Monash Institute of Health Services Research, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia

    Dietze Paul

Authors
  1. Anne-Maree Kelly
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  2. Debra Kerr
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  3. Dietze Paul
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Life Sciences/Toxicology, Alkermes, Inc., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Reginald L. Dean III

  2. Department of Pharmacology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England, Biddleford, ME, 04005, USA

    Edward J. Bilsky

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA

    S. Stevens Negus

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Kelly, AM., Kerr, D., Paul, D. (2009). Intranasal Naloxone for Treatment of Opioid Overdose. In: Dean, R.L., Bilsky, E.J., Negus, S.S. (eds) Opiate Receptors and Antagonists. Contemporary Neuroscience. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-197-0_39

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