MDose · Veterinary drug reference
NALOXONE
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Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
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Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Opioid overdose/reversal, post-op opioid dysphoria (low-dose "microdosing"), adjunct in PEA during CPCR
DogCatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Opioid overdose/reversal, post-op opioid dysphoria (low-dose "microdosing"), adjunct in PEA during CPCR — Extra-label (no veterinary-labeled product)
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Opioid overdose/reversal, post-op opioid dysphoria (low-dose "microdosing"), adjunct in PEA during CPCR — Extra-label (no veterinary-labeled product)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens6
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
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Adverse effects204
Relatively free of adverse effects at usual doses in non-dependent patients — —
DogCatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Acute pain/severe reaction (tachycardia, hypertension, excitement, arrhythmias) if reversing analgesia in a painful patient — Significant risk — reversal blocks endogenous opioids too
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Reverses analgesia along with respiratory depression — Expected effect, not a true "adverse effect" but a major clinical consideration
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Death11 reports
- Bradycardia8 reports
- Pale mucous membrane8 reports
- Death by euthanasia7 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')7 reports
- Tachycardia7 reports
- Decreased heart rate6 reports
- Cardiac arrest5 reports
- Cyanosis5 reports
- Recovery prolonged5 reports
- Anaphylaxis4 reports
- Hypothermia4 reports
Cat
- Behavioural disorder NOS26 reports
- Dilated pupils25 reports
- Death23 reports
- Not eating22 reports
- Death by euthanasia18 reports
- Dysphoria17 reports
- Hypothermia17 reports
- Other abnormal test result NOS16 reports
- Ataxia15 reports
- Cardiac arrest15 reports
- Reluctant to move12 reports
- Depression11 reports
Monitoring1
Respiratory rate/depth, CNS status, pain level, cardiac rate/rhythm post-reversal — continue monitoring well past naloxone's short duration since opioid effects may outlast it
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications2
Hypersensitivity
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Cardiac disease
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Table 1 (p.630), row: Naloxone, Contraindications column · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Manual
Precautions4
Use cautiously in patients with pre-existing cardiac disease or suspected opioid dependence — may precipitate acute withdrawal; not reliable for reversing buprenorphine (partial agonist — may need 100× usual dose)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Titrate to effect rather than giving a full dose bolus whenever possible — full reversal abruptly removes analgesia and can precipitate a distressing, potentially dangerous excitatory reaction in a patient that was undergoing a painful procedure.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Because naloxone's duration is often shorter than the opioid it's reversing, patients need close monitoring for re-sedation/re-depression and may require repeat dosing.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Low-dose ("microdose") naloxone is a useful technique for managing opioid-induced dysphoria post-operatively without fully losing analgesic coverage.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions3
Opioid partial agonists (butorphanol, buprenorphine) — Naloxone may antagonize these too but less predictably — do not rely on it for buprenorphine reversal
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Clonidine — Naloxone may reduce clonidine's hypotensive/bradycardic effects — potentially useful in clonidine overdose
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Yohimbine — May increase CNS effects (anxiety, tremors, nausea)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics4
Onset — 1–2 min (IV); ~5 min (IM)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Duration — 45–90 min, up to 3h; often shorter than opioid being reversed (~60 min in animals per Papich)
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metabolism — Hepatic, glucuronide conjugation
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Elimination — Renal (metabolites)
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Human FDA category B. Papich class A (probably safe). Unknown if excreted in milk — use with caution in nursing patients.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 872–874; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 552–553 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references11
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Integrated in silico and in vivo approaches reveal naltrexone as a synergistic modulator of TLR4 and μ-opioid receptors restoring redox homeostasis via Nrf2/Keap-1/HO-1 and HIF-1α/VEGF pathways in COPD.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Effects of acupuncture at ST-36 (Zusanli) on pain and associated sleep disturbance.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Inadvertent Epidural Injection of Cefazolin in a Dog.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Exploring wanting and liking during positive human-animal interactions.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Artemisia absinthium L. (Wormwood) Extract Effect on 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Withdrawal in Rats: An Animal Study.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Appendix: Drug Dosage Chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629-632.; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.