Articles: narcotic-antagonists.
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Naltrexone is effective in treating opioid dependence by blocking µ, κ and δ opiate receptors. Naltrexone is mainly metabolized to an active metabolite 6β-naltrexol by dihydrodiol dehydrogenase enzymes. Concomitant opioids will not be effective while patients are taking this antagonist. ⋯ Eighteen of 88 patients taking oral naltrexone tested positive for concomitant opiate use. Urinary MRs of 6β-naltrexol/naltrexone were highly variable, which may contribute to variability in efficacy, toxicity and patient willingness to take naltrexone as directed. Twenty percent of patients tested positive for opiates and naltrexone, thus showing the importance of monitoring patients taking naltrexone.
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Opioid abuse and dependence rates continue to rise among U.S. adolescents. Medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NAL) has been shown to be effective up to 12 weeks. Few data are available regarding extended treatment outcomes. The objective of this study was to describe 1-year retention and compliance of a specific pediatric, outpatient BUP/NAL treatment program for opioid-dependent adolescents and young adults. ⋯ Although patient retention was the largest barrier to success, a subset of opioid-dependent adolescents and young adults achieved long-term sobriety in our specific clinic program with continued outpatient BUP/NAL therapy. Retention correlated with UDS negative for opioids, negative for tetrahydrocannabinol, and positive for BUP/NAL.
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Review
A systematic review of community opioid overdose prevention and naloxone distribution programs.
Community-based opioid overdose prevention programs (OOPPs) that include the distribution of naloxone have increased in response to alarmingly high overdose rates in recent years. This systematic review describes the current state of the literature on OOPPs, with particular focus on the effectiveness of these programs. ⋯ Principal findings included participant demographics, the number of naloxone administrations, percentage of survival in overdose victims receiving naloxone, post-naloxone administration outcome measures, OOPP characteristics, changes in knowledge pertaining to overdose responses, and barriers to naloxone administration during overdose responses. The current evidence from nonrandomized studies suggests that bystanders (mostly opioid users) can and will use naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses when properly trained, and that this training can be done successfully through OOPPs.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · May 2014
Comparative StudyPredictors of naloxone use for respiratory depression and oversedation in hospitalized adults.
Results of a study to determine the established risk factors most closely associated with the use of naloxone to reverse adverse effects of opioid analgesia in a hospital population are presented. ⋯ Hospitalized patients on general medical units who required naloxone to reverse opioid-induced oversedation or respiratory depression had significantly more risk factors than matched patients who did not require naloxone.