A nurse is administering naloxone to a patient experiencing respiratory depression. Which of the following interventions must be observed when using naloxone? (Select all that apply.)

Question

a. Naloxone is normally given rapidly via IV.
b. Naloxone is discontinued as soon as a patient is responsive to physical stimulation and able to take deep breaths.
c. Naloxone has a shorter duration than most opioids, so the nurse may need to repeat naloxone as early as 30 minutes after the first dose.
d. The patient's pain control is easily established after receiving naloxone.
e. Naloxone is not recommended after prolonged analgesia because it can induce withdrawal and may cause nausea and dysrhythmias.

Answer 1

B, C, D
Naloxone is normally given intravenously very slowly (0.5 mL over 2 minutes) while the patient is carefully monitored for reversal of the respiratory signs. Naloxone administration can be discontinued as soon as the patient is responsive to physical stimulation and able to take deep breaths. However, the medication should be kept nearby. Because the duration of naloxone is shorter than most opioids, another dose of naloxone may be needed as early as 30 minutes after the first dose. The benefits of reversing respiratory depression with naloxone must be carefully weighed against the risk of a sudden onset of pain and the difficulty achieving pain relief. To prevent this from occurring, it is important to provide a nonopioid medication for pain relief. Moreover, the use of naloxone is not recommended after prolonged analgesia because it can induce withdrawal and may cause nausea and cardiovascular complications (e.g., dysrhythmias).