L. Evans, C. Swainson, P. Roscoe
Mar 3, 1973
Citations
1
Influential Citations
77
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Lancet
Abstract
Abstract Naloxone (N-allylnoroxymorphone) is a potent narcotic antagonist which is devoid of agonist activity. Nine patients with narcotic analgesic overdosage recovered consciousness immediately after intravenous injection of 0·4-1·2 mg. of naloxone given in divided doses over 3 minutes. There was a striking increase in respiratory rate and volume accompanied by a rise in systolic blood-pressure and dilatation of the pupils. In contrast, naloxone did not produce any change in the level of consciousness, respiration, blood-pressure, pulse-rate, or pupil size in thirteen deeply unconscious patients poisoned with a variety of non-narcotic central-nervous-system depressants. Unlike nalorphine, naloxone readily reverses the effects of pentazocine and has no intrinsic respiratory depressant activity.