People receiving care for severe opioid use disorder (OUD) are at increased risk of relapse. This makes it critical to manage opioid overdose in a timely manner.
Naloxone is a cornerstone in the emergency treatment of known or suspected overdose and it can be added as an extra safety measure to prevent serious harm or death.
But Brixadi, one of the newer medications for opioid use disorder, does not contain naloxone. It only contains buprenorphine and naloxone is usually given as a separate prescription.
Let’s explore the safety profile of Brixadi, and when prescribing naloxone as an add-on to the treatment regimen should be considered.
When to Prescribe Naloxone to People Receiving Brixadi?
People receiving buprenorphine treatment, which is the active ingredient of Brixadi, should be educated on how to recognize major side effects like difficulty breathing and impaired levels of consciousness.
Call 911 and seek emergency care which includes stabilization and receiving a single dose of naloxone. In some cases, higher than usual or repeated doses might be necessary.
Doctors should also advise patients to seek medical treatment when other Brixadi side effects are suspected. Those include:
- Opioid dependence
- Hypersensitivity reactions (like anaphylaxis)
- Liver impairment
- Urinary tract infection
Naloxone is administered as an injection under the skin or into the muscles. It competes with Brixadi to bind to opioid receptors and reverses the exaggerated effects of a potential drug overdose.
Side Effects Associated with Naloxone Administration Alongside Brixadi
People receiving buprenorphine containing products like Brixadi are at risk of developing opioid withdrawal syndrome on sudden discontinuation of the treatment.
Opioid withdrawal signs are also precipitated by receiving naloxone which counteracts Brixadi’s effects. Those include:
- Runny nose
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle weakness
- Frequent yawning
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
- Faster heart rate and increased blood pressure
- Precipitation of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in pregnant females treated for opioid use disorder
If you experience any of those symptoms, don’t self medicate. Consult a healthcare professional to prevent serious harm.
Other buprenorphine treatment regimens like Suboxone contain naloxone. The opioid blocker effect of naloxone kicks into full throttle only when the drug is administered intravenously.
As long as the drug is used as intended as a daily sublingual buprenorphine, naloxone remains inactive.
The intravenous administration of Suboxone produces moderate withdrawal symptoms which become bothersome enough to discourage people recovering from opioid dependence from relapsing.
Considerations Before Prescribing Naloxone to Treat Patients Receiving Brixadi
Before receiving Brixadi, ask your healthcare provider on how to identify suspected adverse reactions associated with drug overdose.
Make sure you and your caregivers are properly educated on the safe ways of administering naloxone in case of emergencies and no access to a nearby healthcare facility.
Family members should also be briefed on where you keep your emergency naloxone vials for it to be administered with no delays.
For optimum storage conditions, patients requiring opioid therapy should store naloxone in a closed container at room temperature.
Heat, moisture, and direct light should be avoided.
Naloxone is given the same way as injecting Brixadi: in the form of an injection under the skin. The following instructions are important to follow:
- Don’t delay naloxone treatment in people with severe opioid overdose symptoms.
- The outer thighs are the preferred injection site for naloxone. The injection can be administered through clothes if needed.
- A naloxone syringe comes with similar safety features seen in the Brixadi needle cap. Only disengage the safety guard when you’re ready to use the medication.
- For a complete treatment plan, you need to seek emergency care even after receiving a naloxone injection at home.
- Stay vigilant for re-emergence of severe opioid related symptoms that can sometimes recur within minutes of receiving naloxone. In these cases, emergency medical services should be contacted immediately to prevent the recurrence of the overdose.
Is Brixadi a Good Choice Even Though It Has No Naloxone?
There is no single medication that works for all people with severe opioid use disorder. Brixadi risk evaluation is key to ensure the benefits of the drug outweigh its potential side effects.
Adverse events like emergent acute pain, difficulty breathing, and slowed heart rate need to be treated by naloxone injection in the subcutaneous tissue.
It’s critical to acknowledge that medications alone aren’t the definitive treatment for severe opioid use disorder.
Counseling and behavioral therapy should go hand in hand with buprenorphine therapy to ensure people maintain positive life changes.
Access Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction Today…
If you, or a loved one, are battling opioid use disorder and would like to know whether medication-assisted treatment is suitable, book an appointment with Curednation today.
