Naloxone is a narcotic medication used to manage pain and reverse the effects of narcotic drugs. According to MedlinePlus.com, naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses such depressive symptoms as respiratory depression (trouble sleeping). It can also increase your blood pressure if you suffer from sepsis (a bacterial infection in your blood that can lead to low blood pressure). Typically, you will receive naloxone as an injection or intravenous (through your vein) infusion.
Prevalent Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, naloxone's routine side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and sweating. It can also cause a runny nose, trembling, dizziness, fatigue and trembling. Other prevalent side effects include restlessness, nervousness and extreme euphoria. Talk to your physician if these side effects do not subside within three or four days. Your doctor may decide to stop naloxone.
Serious Side Effects
According to the National Library of Medicine, naloxone can cause hypotension (low blood pressure), hypertension (high blood pressure), dyspnea (shortness of breath) and heart irregularities such as ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia. Naloxone can cause pulmonary edema (when fluid builds up in your lungs) and cardiac arrest (when your heart stops beating). Naloxone's other serious side effects include coma, hallucinations, agitation and flushing of your skin. Naloxone can also lead to opioid dependence. You may suffer from such symptoms as fever, sweating (diaphoresis), sneezing, weakness, diarrhea, stomach pain and tachycardia (fast heartbeat). Call your doctor if any of these side effects develop.
Other Concerns
Avoid naloxone if you are allergic to its side effects. You may develop trouble breathing, swelling of your face or throat and hives.
Drugs.com says that you should tell your doctor if you have a head injury, brain tumor, convulsions, heart disease or a history of drug or substance abuse. Your doctor may have to adjust naloxone's dosage to prevent the aforementioned side effects.
Do not combine naloxone with such medications as buprenorphine, codeine, hydrocodone, naltrexone or oxymorphone. These medications can mix with naloxone and provoke the aforementioned side effects.
The National Library of Medicine says that you should cautiously use naloxone if you have a history of physical opioid dependence. You may develop such withdrawal symptoms as diarrhea, body aches, tachycardia (fast heartbeat), weakness, nervousness and restlessness.
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