Reversal of Alcoholic Coma by Naloxone
Authors: LEONARD J. LYON
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1982)

Brief Reports1 April 1982Reversal of Alcoholic Coma by NaloxoneLEONARD J. LYON, M.D., JOSE ANTONY, M.D.LEONARD J. LYON, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, JOSE ANTONY, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-96-4-464 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptRecent experimental (1-2) and clinical (3-7) studies suggest that naloxone hydrochloride, generally considered to be a specific opiate antagonist, can reverse the effects of alcoholic intoxication. We report two cases of coma caused by ethanol; in each case, naloxone therapy aroused the patients promptly. Our observations suggest naloxone is not only useful in patients with opiate toxicity, but also may have broader therapeutic use.Patient 1:A 20-year-old man was brought unconscious to Bergen Pines County Hospital on 11 August 1980 at 0332 h. On admission, his blood pressure was 128/80 mm Hg and pulse, 96/min; temperature, 35.8 °0C; and...References1. BLUMFUTTERMANWALLACESCHWERTNER KSJH. Naloxone-induced inhibition of ethanol dependence in mice. Nature. 1977;265:49-51. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. JEFFCOATEHERBERTCULLENHASTINGSWALDER WMMAC. Prevention of effects of alcohol intoxication by naloxone. Lancet. 1979;2:1157-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. SORENSONMATTISON SK. Naloxone as an antagonist in severe alcohol intoxication. Lancet. 1978;2:688-9. Letter. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. BARROSRODRIGUEZ SG. Naloxone as an antagonist in alcohol intoxication. Anesthesiology. 1981;54:174. Letter. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. JEFFERYSFLANAGANVOLANS DRG. Reversal of ethanol-induced coma with naloxone. Lancet. 1980;1:308-9. Letter. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. MACKENZIE A. Naloxone in alcohol intoxication. Lancet. 1979;1:733-4. Letter. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. SCHENKENDERSENGELMEIER GPM. Application of the morphine antagonist naloxone in psychic disorders. Drug Res. 1978;28(2): 1274-7. Google Scholar8. ROSS DH MEDINA MA CARDENAS HL . Morphine and ethanol: selective depletion of regional brain calcium. Science. 1974;186:63-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. BLUM K. Alcohol and opiates: a review of common mechanisms. In: M AZO L. ed. Advances in Neurotoxicology. Proceedings of the International Congress on Neurotoxicology, Varese, Italy, 27-30 September 1979. Elmsford, N.Y.: Pergamon Press; 1980:71-90. Google Scholar10. JAFFEMARTIN JW. Opioid antagonists and agonists-antagonists. In: GOODMAN AG, GOODMAN LS, GILMAN A. eds. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 6th ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.; 1980:520-8. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: LEONARD J. LYON, M.D.; JOSE ANTONY, M.D.Affiliations: Bergen Pines County Hospital; Paramus, New Jersey. 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DUCOBU, M.D.Naloxone-Ethanol Interaction in Experimental and Clinical SituationsEffect of naloxone administration upon responses of adrenal hormones to withdrawal from ethanolBrainstem ischaemia presenting as naloxone-reversible coma followed by downward gaze paralysis.Endogenous opiates: 1982Naloxone in Ethanol IntoxicationA.A.-B. BADAWY, M.D., M. EVANS, M.D.Naloxone and Alcohol Intoxication in the DogNaloxone and Ethanol IntoxicationJ.M. GUERIN, G. FRIEDBERGNaloxone and Alcoholic IntoxicationHERVÉ LIGNIAN, M.D., JEANINE FONTAINE, M.D., ROBERT ASKENASI, M.D.NALOXONE FOR ALCOHOL POISONING?SALSOLINOL AND ALCOHOLISM 1 April 1982Volume 96, Issue 4Page: 464-465KeywordsAlcoholicsBlood pressureComaEthanolHeart rateIntoxicationOpiatesTemperatureToxicity ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 April 1982 PDF downloadLoading ...