A case of heroin overdose reversed by sublingually administered buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone).
BACKGROUND
Opioid overdose is a major source of morbidity and mortality in injection drug users in the United States and many other countries.


METHODS
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.
Welsh
Christopher
C
Department of Psychiatry, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. cwelsh@psych.umaryland.edu
Sherman
Susan G
SG
Tobin
Karin E
KE
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000506:poisoning*; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D062787:Drug Overdose; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000931:Antidotes; D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009270:Naloxone; D002047:Buprenorphine; D003932:Heroin