A case of heroin overdose reversed by sublingually administered buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone).

Author(s): Welsh C, Sherman SG, Tobin KE

Affiliation(s): Department of Psychiatry, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. cwelsh@psych.umaryland.edu

Publication date & source: 2008-07, Addiction., 103(7):1226-8.

Publication type: Case Reports

BACKGROUND: Opioid overdose is a major source of morbidity and mortality in injection drug users in the United States and many other countries. CASE DESCRIPTION: A case is described in which buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) was administered sublingually to reverse a heroin overdose. CONCLUSIONS: Sublingually administered buprenorphine/naloxone might be used as a means to reverse opioid overdose.