Naloxone-induced pulmonary edema.
We present the case of a 68-year-old woman with acute pulmonary edema secondary to the administration of naloxone to reverse an inadvertent narcotic overdose. The patient presented following a 12-hour history of increasingly bizarre behavior and confusion. A total IV dose of 1.6 mg naloxone was administered in an attempt to reverse the suspected overconsumption of a codeine-containing cough suppressant. She immediately became agitated, tachycardic, and diaphoretic; a clinical diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema was made. Following treatment with furosemide, nitroglycerin, and morphine sulfate, the patient recovered completely without further incident. Although naloxone is thought to be a safe drug with few complications, it should not be used indiscriminantly, and the smallest doses necessary to elicit the desired response should be used.
Schwartz
J A
JA
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago.
Koenigsberg
M D
MD
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D003061:Codeine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology
D009270:Naloxone; D003061:Codeine