Intranasal naloxone reversal of opioid-induced respiratory depression in opioid-naïve individuals and self-reported daily opioid users.

Since current opioid overdose deaths occur mainly from potent synthetic opioids with high affinity for the opioid receptor, such as fentanyl and carfentanil, it is important to determine the efficacy of naloxone, particularly the intranasal formulation, in reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression. This study evaluated effectiveness of 4 mg intranasal naloxone (Narcan®) in reversing moderate respiratory depression induced by fentanyl and sufentanil, in opioid-naïve individuals and self-reported daily opioid users. Sufentanil was compared to fentanyl because of its higher affinity for the opioid receptor than fentanyl.