EHC Program Update: Final Report on Management of Opioid Overdose with Naloxone; Draft Report for Comment, Chronic Pain Treatment

Evidence Review Now Available

Management of Suspected Opioid Overdose with Naloxone by Emergency Medical Services Personnel (Systematic Review, released 11/27/2017)
Selected key findings:

• Higher concentration intranasal naloxone may be similarly effective and safe compared with intramuscular naloxone, but the available studies did not evaluate formulations approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
• While field administration of naloxone is generally effective in reversing opioid overdose, there is not strong evidence concerning differences in effectiveness between doses or routes of administration.
• More research is needed to determine optimal doses of naloxone, appropriate timing of repeat dosing, and whether it is necessary to dose patients to full consciousness.
• More research is needed to determine whether transporting patients to a hospital after successful reversal of overdose is necessary.
• For more, see https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/topics/emt-naloxon/systematic-review
• For a related journal article, see http://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2664376/management-suspected-opioid-overdose-naloxone-out-hospital-settings-systematic-review

Opportunity to Comment on Draft Reports

We encourage the public to participate in the development of our research projects. Comments can be submitted for:

Noninvasive, Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review
Available for comment until December 26, 2017

Mobile Health for Self-Management of Diabetes
Available for comment until December 8, 2017

Psychological and Pharmacological Treatments for Adults with PTSD: A Systematic Review Update
Available for comment until December 29, 2017