USE OF NALOXONE FOR REVERSAL OF PICTURES OF OPIOID POISONING (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Introduction: The consumption of illegal substances is notably a global public health problem. From this, opioid intoxication is, for example, the main cause of drug-related deaths in Austria. In this sense, the administration of Naloxone appears as a tool to combat toxic situations triggered by the use of substances of an opioid nature, given its antagonistic effect on the receptors of this class. Goals: to analyze the effects of using Naloxone as an intervention tool in cases of opioid intoxication. Methods: This is an integrative literature review, in the PubMed database, based on the descriptors: “naloxone” and “opioid intoxication ” in the last five years. Seven scientific articles were selected, all written in English and carried out in humans, and articles that did not fit the goals of the present study were excluded. Results: Naloxone was a significant intervening agent in the absolute majority of cases of opioid intoxication. Select exceptions were observed in which patients required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure relatively refractory to large doses of Naloxone. However, the use of opioid antagonist medication has been proven to be the safest and most efficient method of reversing intoxication, with great results even as a treatment for cases of alcohol dependence. Conclusion: the use of naloxone to reverse opioid intoxication conditions proved to be safe and efficient, but with some adverse effects when using high doses of this opioid receptor antagonist. It is concluded that the administration of naloxone, in adequate doses, is a useful tool in overdose or acute opioid intoxication.