Eli5: How do hospitals treat overdose by opioids?

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So when a person has an OD narcan is applied to kick off the opioids binding to the receptors. But narcan only last temporarily. So when narcan is applied and patient is taken to the hospital, what do they do next to treat the over dosage before narcan wears off? Do they just keep giving you narcan?

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15 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Watch closely for a few hours to make sure the person doesn’t go down again when the first dose wears off. Give more narcan if needed. In unusual cases, someone might need a continuous infusion for a day or so until they get better.

Source: am ER doctor

Anonymous 0 Comments

Watch closely for a few hours to make sure the person doesn’t go down again when the first dose wears off. Give more narcan if needed. In unusual cases, someone might need a continuous infusion for a day or so until they get better.

Source: am ER doctor

Anonymous 0 Comments

just continue doing a lot of Narcan. Iv fluids can increase bp if need be. if the heart stops or goes into a dangerous rhythm, CPR, shocking, and certain drugs can help. same as if the person stops breathing. Bag masks, intubation and certain drugs can help as well.

also the nasal spray is only one way of administering drugs. Remember, this is a hospital so you can give things intravenously. They can most likely give a dose of narcan continuously through an IV. also unless the person is DNR/DNI they will do everything they can to keep that person alive unless the family tells them to stop and signs paperwork, or they know that they’re just not coming back.

Anonymous 0 Comments

just continue doing a lot of Narcan. Iv fluids can increase bp if need be. if the heart stops or goes into a dangerous rhythm, CPR, shocking, and certain drugs can help. same as if the person stops breathing. Bag masks, intubation and certain drugs can help as well.

also the nasal spray is only one way of administering drugs. Remember, this is a hospital so you can give things intravenously. They can most likely give a dose of narcan continuously through an IV. also unless the person is DNR/DNI they will do everything they can to keep that person alive unless the family tells them to stop and signs paperwork, or they know that they’re just not coming back.

Anonymous 0 Comments

just continue doing a lot of Narcan. Iv fluids can increase bp if need be. if the heart stops or goes into a dangerous rhythm, CPR, shocking, and certain drugs can help. same as if the person stops breathing. Bag masks, intubation and certain drugs can help as well.

also the nasal spray is only one way of administering drugs. Remember, this is a hospital so you can give things intravenously. They can most likely give a dose of narcan continuously through an IV. also unless the person is DNR/DNI they will do everything they can to keep that person alive unless the family tells them to stop and signs paperwork, or they know that they’re just not coming back.