👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team🕐 Updated 2026-08-23🏷️ Pharmacological Therapies🔖 Free to read, print, and share
Also known as: Narcan · opioid antidote · opioid reversal
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Naloxone on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
📌 Use
Reverses opioid overdose
Antagonist → blocks receptors
🩺 Signs
Target: RR <12, pinpoint pupils
Sedation, unresponsive, ↓BP
✅ Do
Give IV/IM/intranasal, support airway
Short half-life → repeat doses
Monitor → opioid outlasts naloxone
🚩 Report
Withdrawal: agitation, ↑HR, vomiting
Re-sedation when drug wears off
📚 Naloxone — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
Naloxone is a pure opioid antagonist that reverses opioid overdose, especially respiratory depression and sedation. It competitively displaces opioids from receptors and restores breathing within minutes. Key principle: it has a short duration, so the patient must be monitored for re-sedation when the opioid outlasts it.
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Key points
Understand these first
It rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression, sedation, and pinpoint pupils.
Its duration is shorter than most opioids, so respiratory depression can return and repeat doses may be needed.
It can precipitate acute opioid withdrawal: agitation, tachycardia, sweating, nausea, and pain.
It is given IV, IM, subcutaneously, or intranasally and is titrated to restore adequate breathing.
It has no effect in the absence of opioids.
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Nursing priorities
What to do, in order
Maintain airway and support breathing while administering naloxone.
Monitor respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and level of consciousness continuously.
Reassess for re-sedation because naloxone wears off before the opioid does.
Titrate the dose to restore breathing without causing severe withdrawal.
Anticipate repeat dosing or a continuous infusion for long-acting opioids.
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Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately
Continue monitoring after reversal; re-sedation and respiratory depression can recur.
Report return of slowed breathing or decreased consciousness.
Anticipate sudden withdrawal and possible combativeness after administration.
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Patient teaching
What patients must know
Caregivers should learn to give intranasal naloxone and always call 911 afterward.
The effect is temporary; stay with the person until help arrives.
More than one dose may be needed if breathing slows again.
❓ Naloxone: NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Naloxone?
Maintain airway and support breathing while administering naloxone. Monitor respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and level of consciousness continuously. Reassess for re-sedation because naloxone wears off before the opioid does. Titrate the dose to restore breathing without causing severe withdrawal.
What are the warning signs of Naloxone a nurse must report?
Continue monitoring after reversal; re-sedation and respiratory depression can recur. Report return of slowed breathing or decreased consciousness. Anticipate sudden withdrawal and possible combativeness after administration.
What do I need to know about Naloxone for the NCLEX?
It rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression, sedation, and pinpoint pupils. Its duration is shorter than most opioids, so respiratory depression can return and repeat doses may be needed. It can precipitate acute opioid withdrawal: agitation, tachycardia, sweating, nausea, and pain. It is given IV, IM, subcutaneously, or intranasally and is titrated to restore adequate breathing.
What patient teaching is important for Naloxone?
Caregivers should learn to give intranasal naloxone and always call 911 afterward. The effect is temporary; stay with the person until help arrives. More than one dose may be needed if breathing slows again.
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Quick Tip
It rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression, sedation, and pinpoint pupils.