Abstract

Analgesics have consistently remained the most common substance involved in human poisonings in the United States, with immediate action opioid analgesics associated with the greatest percent of fatalities per exposure.[1] Often current practice dictates that patients with presumed opioid overdose can be safely discharged one hour after naloxone administration if they meet certain criteria: 1) ambulate as usual; 2) have oxygen saturation on room air of > 92%; 3) have a respiratory rate>10 breaths/min and < 20 breaths/min; 4) have a temperature of > 35.0 °C and < 37.5 °C; 5) have a heart rate>50 beats/min and < 100 beats/min; and 6) have a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15.[2]

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