Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 22
Naloxone works by blocking the effect of the opioid on its inhibitory receptor. It basically
knocks the drug off the receptor and reduces the enhanced inhibition back to baseline.
After administration patients wake up within seconds, and sometimes withdraw if they
are chronic users (as with heroin)….not a terrorism issue.
Realize that in many situations the toxic exposure results in toxicity that lasts longer than
the antidote. Patient’s initial symptoms may then recur when the naloxone wears off.
The use of naloxone REVERSES the inhibition that is caused by an opioid drug. The
onset of action after IV administration of naloxone is fast and generally occurs within 1-2
minutes. Its duration of action is 20 to 90 minutes. Naloxone reverses the effects of the
entire family of opioid drugs including heroin, morphine, fentanyl, methadone, and
hydrocodone. For some opioids such as methadone and hydrocodone the dose
necessary to reverse the drug effects is greater than 2 mg. Upwards of 10 mg may
sometimes be required is some of these cases. This reflects the relative potency of
binding to the opioid receptors in the brain.
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 90