What is Naltrexone?

Naloxone hydrochloride occurs as a white to slightly off-white powder, and is soluble in water, in dilute acids, and in strong alkali; slightly soluble in alcohol; practically insoluble in ether and in chloroform.

Naloxone hydrochloride injection is available as a sterile solution for intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous administration. Each mL contains 0.4 mg of Naloxone hydrochloride. Each mL contains 8.9 mg of sodium chloride. The pH is adjusted between 3.0 to 6.5 with hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. The air in the cartridges has been displaced by nitrogen gas.

Naloxone has been shown in some cases of septic shock to produce a rise in blood pressure that may last up to several hours; however this pressor response has not been demonstrated to improve patient survival. In some studies, treatment with Naloxone in the setting of septic shock has been associated with adverse effects, including agitation, nausea and vomiting, pulmonary edema, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, and seizures. The decision to use Naloxone in septic shock should be exercised with caution, particularly in patients who may have underlying pain or have previously received opioid therapy and may have developed opioid tolerance.

Because of the limited number of patients who have been treated, optimal dosage and treatment regimens have not been established.