Naloxone
Antidote, Opiate Antagonist (Systemic Drug)
Prescriber Highlights
Injectable opiate antagonist
Reversal effect may last for a shorter time than opioid effect
Uses, Indications
Used almost exclusively for opiate reversal
Has been investigated for treating other conditions (eg, sepsis, hypovolemic or cardiogenic shock)
Used to test whether an endogenous opiate blockade will result in diminished tail chasing or other self-mutilating behaviors
Contraindications, Precautions, Warnings
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity; should be used cautiously in patients with cardiac abnormalities and/or opioid dependency
Precautions
Poor reversal agent for buprenorphine
Warnings
When used to reduce postoperative dysphoria associated with perioperative opioids, dosage and administration rate must be carefully titrated or hyperalgesia may occur
Side Effects
Relatively free of side effects at usual doses
When used to reverse the effect of opioids, opioid analgesic activity can also be reversed
Duration of action may be shorter than that of the narcotic being reversed; animals with signs of respiratory depression should be closely monitored because ventilatory support or additional doses of naloxone may be required
Drug Interactions
May antagonize the effects of opioid partial agonists (eg, buprenorphine, butorphanol, pentazocine, nalbuphine)
May reduce hypotensive and bradycardic effects of clonidine; potentially useful for clonidine overdoses
May increase the CNS effects of yohimbine
May increase plasma cortisol levels
Monitoring
Respiratory rate and depth
CNS function
Pain associated with opiate reversal
Client Information
Use only with direct professional supervision
Dosage Forms
No veterinary-labeled products are currently available
Naloxone HCl injection 0.4 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL
—Compiled and summarized from Plumb’s Veterinary Drugs by Shannon Palermo, VMD
Information about this drug was adapted from Plumb’s Veterinary Drugs. Further details and more therapeutics can be found with a subscription at plumbsveterinarydrugs.com.