Nebulized Naloxone Is Safe and Effective for Management of Opioid Overdose

Difficult intravenous access in patients with opioid overdose and concern for occupational needle sticks has led to consideration of alternative routes of naloxone administration in the prehospital setting. Researchers in Chicago retrospectively analyzed 105 consecutive hemodynamically stable, spontaneously breathing patients (age range, 16–77) who received nebulized naloxone (2 mg in 3 mL of normal saline) for suspected opioid overdose or undifferentiated respiratory depression in the prehospital setting.

Overall, 22% of patients responded completely, 59% improved partially, and 19% did not respond. Rescue naloxone was administered by intravenous or intramuscular routes to 11 patients (10%), 2 of whom did not respond. No patient required as…