Citation

Winston I, McDonald R, Tas B, Strang J. BMJ Case Rep. 2015; 2015: 2015-210391.

Affiliation

Addictions Department, King's College London, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bcr-2015-210391

PMID

26370638

Abstract

Opiate overdose is the primary cause of death among injection-drug users, representing a major public health concern worldwide. Opiate overdose can be reversed through timely administration of naloxone, and users have expressed willingness to carry the antidote for emergency use (take-home naloxone). In November 2014, new WHO guidelines identified that naloxone should be made available to anyone at risk of witnessing an overdose. We present the case of a 46-year-old man in opioid-maintenance treatment who used take-home naloxone to rescue an overdose victim. This is the first- ever account of a patient using dose titration of naloxone to restore respiratory function while minimising the risk of adverse effects. To improve the safety of take-home naloxone, the authors call for clinicians involved in the treatment of opiate users to: prescribe take-home naloxone to all patients; forewarn patients of potential side effects; and instruct patients in naloxone dose titration.

Language: en