Introduction
Naloxone (also known as Narcan or Evzio) is an opioid antagonist that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for opioid overdoses since 1971; why are we hearing so much about it right now? Opioid overdoses and deaths continue to increase. In order to reduce these deaths, legislation is regularly being passed at the state level to get naloxone in the hands of the family and friends of those at risk for overdose. Currently, there are thirty-seven states with laws regarding naloxone access to individuals at risk of an opioid overdose (Figure 1).1 Beyond state legislation, both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives again introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act (CARA) of 2015, which would provide resources as well as incentive programs at the state and local level for drug treatment. This includes recovery efforts such as increasing naloxone availability to law …show more content…
Common opioids are listed in Table 1. As more opioid is available in the body and increasing numbers of receptors become bound, an increase in adverse effects may be seen. Adverse Effects
Opioids can bind mu receptors throughout the body or to many receptors within the CNS, increasing the likelihood of undesired side effects which can include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, fatigue, pruritus, constipation, pinpoint pupils, urinary retention, and respiratory depression, to name the most common.6 An overdose from opioids leads to significant depression of the respiratory centers in the brain resulting in very slow or complete cessation of
Naloxone (also known as Narcan or Evzio) is an opioid antagonist that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for opioid overdoses since 1971; why are we hearing so much about it right now? Opioid overdoses and deaths continue to increase. In order to reduce these deaths, legislation is regularly being passed at the state level to get naloxone in the hands of the family and friends of those at risk for overdose. Currently, there are thirty-seven states with laws regarding naloxone access to individuals at risk of an opioid overdose (Figure 1).1 Beyond state legislation, both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives again introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act (CARA) of 2015, which would provide resources as well as incentive programs at the state and local level for drug treatment. This includes recovery efforts such as increasing naloxone availability to law …show more content…
Common opioids are listed in Table 1. As more opioid is available in the body and increasing numbers of receptors become bound, an increase in adverse effects may be seen. Adverse Effects
Opioids can bind mu receptors throughout the body or to many receptors within the CNS, increasing the likelihood of undesired side effects which can include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, fatigue, pruritus, constipation, pinpoint pupils, urinary retention, and respiratory depression, to name the most common.6 An overdose from opioids leads to significant depression of the respiratory centers in the brain resulting in very slow or complete cessation of