The Optimal Initial Dose and Route of Naloxone Administration for Successful Opioid Reversal: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review aims to determine the optimal initial dose of naloxone for successful opioid overdose reversal across different administration routes. Types of participants included adults who have opioid overdoses and adults who are suspected to have opioid overdoses. Pregnant women, children, animals, and populations outside the US were excluded. The interventions included were intranasal (IN), intramuscular (IM), and intravenous (IV) naloxone administration. The data collected for this systematic registers between January 2015 and July 2021. The risk of bias was assessed via the Review Manager application. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. A meaningful statistical analysis was unable to be conducted with such few studies. The studies reveal 2 mg IN as the most popular dosing for initial naloxone for successful opioid reversal. The most common route of naloxone administration for successful reversal could not be studied but most studies revealed successful initial naloxone dosing in IN equivalents. With minimal studies emerging from our review, further research is warranted in naloxone dosing for optimal opioid reversal in order to fully treat patients. Healthcare workers must be vigilant of potential withdrawal from high naloxone dosing as well as the inefficiency of lower naloxone dosing for adequate opioid overdose reversal in order to treat patients with opioid overdoses properly.