Articles: narcotic-antagonists.
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A short cut review was carried out to establish whether intramuscular/subcutaneous naloxone is better than intravenous naloxone in opioid overdose. Altogether 185 papers were found using the reported search, of which two presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated. A clinical bottom line is stated.
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A short cut review was carried out to establish whether patients with no recurrence of symptoms one hour after receiving naloxone for an opioid overdose can safely be discharged. Altogether 195 papers were found using the reported search, of which five presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated. A clinical bottom line is stated.
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Medical treatment of heroin addiction with methadone and other pharmacotherapies has important benefits for individuals and society. However, regulatory policies have separated this treatment from the medical care system, limiting access to care and contributing to the social stigma of even effective addiction pharmacotherapy. ⋯ Recent initiatives aiming to reintegrate methadone maintenance and other addiction pharmacotherapies into medical practice may promote both expanded treatment capacity and increased physician expertise in addiction medicine. These initiatives include changes in federal oversight of the opiate addiction treatment system, the approval of physician office-based methadone maintenance programs for stabilized patients, and federal legislation that could enable physicians to treat opiate addiction with new medications in regular medical practice.
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Progenics is developing methylnaltrexone (MNTX), an opioid antagonist licensed from UR Labs and the University of Chicago, for the potential treatment of the side effects of opioid pain therapy, such as constipation and post-operative bowel dysfunction. MNTX was discovered at the University of Chicago and subsequently licensed by UR Labs. In October 2001, Progenics entered into an agreement with UR Labs to obtain exclusive worldwide rights to the drug [423791]. ⋯ In October 2001, a double-blind, randomized, phase II study evaluating sc MNTX in cancer patients for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation was initiated at the University of Chicago Medical Center [423791]. In December 2001, the company stated that it was preparing to initiate phase IIb trials of the compound in opioid-induced constipation and post-operative bowel dysfunction [423791], [432507]. These trials were initiated in February 2002 [440995].