When Narcan Goes Wrong and the Patient Goes Into Distress
Narcan is a miracle drug. It has literally brought back people from the dead by reversing overdoses. Narcan is a treatment for the overdose of Opioids.
Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury from an accident in the United States. Since 1990, overdose deaths have increased 5-fold.
What is an Overdose?
Overdose (OD) happens when a toxic amount of a drug, or combination of drugs overwhelms the body.
People can overdose on plenty of substances. However, none are as deadly as overdosing on Opioids.
The reason being is because oftentimes, people mix Opioids with benzos such as Ativan and Valium. The combination of an opioid and a benzo is a deadly combination.
What is Naloxone (Narcan)
Narcan is an opioid antagonist. An antagonist is a medication that will reverse the effects of another medication. The main problem with opioid overdose is respiratory suppression.
Opioids such as fentanyl cause respiratory depression because the drug acts on the respiratory center.
Narcan only works if the person has opioids in their system. Therefore, Narcan is an easy way to tell if the person has overdosed on an opioid.
Of course, if the person has been down for a significant amount of time and they have no pulse, Narcan will not be of any use. However, when a person is found down it is best to administer Narcan just in case.
How Does Narcan Work?
There are many receptors in the brain. The brain has many receptors for opioids.
When the number of receptors gets too full, the breathing slows down or even stops.
So when 911 is called and a person is down, the paramedics step into action.
On the scene, the paramedics have to do some critical thinking to determine if Narcan is needed.
They have to ask fast questions like:
- Does the person have a drug history?
- If the person can talk ask them if they took any drugs.
- Who was with the person?
- What environment is the person located?
- Is there any drug paraphernalia around the person?
- What is the person’s history?
Once the paramedics have made the decision that the person needs Narcan, they are able to administer the medication in several ways.
The quickest way is to give the Narcan nasally. The paramedics simply spray the Narcan up the nose.
The second way is to give the person Narcan in the muscle.
Sometimes, 911 will receive a call from a nursing home or a long-term care facility. In this situation, the person might have an IV in place.
Narcan Dosage
When a paramedic or healthcare professional recognizes that a person may have had an overdose, Narcan comes in several forms and dosages.
Narcan comes in 0.4mg/ml or 1mg/ml dosages. This is the IV form.
If a provider is unable to establish IV access on the person, Narcan can be given intramuscularly (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) . This form comes in the dose of 0.4mg/0.4ml.
For a complete reversal of an opiate overdose, give 0.4-2 mg IV/IM/SC every 2-3 minutes not to exceed 1omg.
When Narcan Administration Goes Wrong
So normally if the person has overdosed with opioids , and they still have a pulse the Narcan should start to arouse them in seconds. Within 1-3 minutes, the person should be awake.
However, after they wake up is when the problems start. Some people are able to recover immediately from the overdose and go on about their way.
Other people can get very iritable or lethargic. The people who become lethargic and cant control their airway is the problem.
Often times, these people will go into respiratory distress. Often times when an overdosed person is given Narcan, it puts them in full blown withdrawals symptoms.-0
These people require emergency interventions such as oxygen supplementation, or even intubation.
Intubation
When a person has to be intubated because of Narcan, it is usually for 2-3 days. Intubation is when a tube is inserted into your lungs to help you breathe. When you are intubated, the provider will give you a sedative.
When you are ready to be extubated, the doctor will stop the sedation, and hopefully, you will wake up on your own and be at your baseline.
Conclusion
If you or someone you know is are using drugs there is help available.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has resources for every state.
Can Narcan Save Everyone?
Narcan can’t save everyone who overdoses. It depends on the drugs that were overdosed on. It also depends on the overall health of the patient.
How can I obtain Narcan?
Narcan can be obtained without a prescription in the nasal spray form. Emergency room doctors are now also writing a prescription for Narcan to be giving to patients who have come into the emergency room for an overdose. Police officers and 911 paramedics also carry Narcan.
Does Narcan side effects?
Narcan does have some side effects. When a person has received Narcan, it can put them in full withdrawal. Sometimes this will require the person to have to take other opiates such as suboxone or oxycodone.
In many states Narcan is free. In fact, providers are now giving people who are addicted to opiates Narcan to carry around in case they overdose. Their families are also taught how to administer Narcan.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29776702
My name is Phyllis Robinson MSN, RN. I have been a Registered Nurse for 27 years in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. I am passionate about cardiac care and heart disease. I also want this blog to be an educational tool that people can refer to for traditional and alternative treatment. I will blog on heart disorders such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and high cholesterol.
I received my Nursing degree from Baltimore Community College.
I went on to receive my Masters in Nursing from Walden University
I have worked for almost 30 years in Critical Care with a focus on heart health. I am an advocate of preventive healthcare.
