Contents:
Document Title
Guidelines for the use of naloxone in palliative care in adult patients
Document Date
March 2025
Document Purpose and Intended Audience
This guideline provides information about the use of naloxone, an opioid antagonist in the palliative patient who is receiving prescribed opioid medication in the clinical setting.
Author
Dr Christina Radcliffe and Tarun Nayyar
Previous version reviewed and updated by Michelle Aslett, Specialist Palliative Care Pharmacist.
Consultation Process
Discussed and ratified at SPAGG
Monitoring
This will be audited and reviewed every 3 years
Review Date
(must be within three years)
March 2028
Approval Signatures:
SPAGG chair
Dr Jon Tomas
SPAGG secretary
Dr Hannah Fox
Date Approved by SPAGG: March 2025
Date submitted to Area Prescribing Committee: N/A
Version History
Version 0.1
Date
December 2008
Summary of change/ process
Draft guideline discussed at Specialist Palliative Care Audit and Guidelines Sub Group (SPAGG)
Version 0.2
Date
March 2009
Summary of change/ process
Amended draft re-discussed
Version 0.3
Date
June 2009
Summary of change/ process
Received comments from Professor Ferner and circulated document to SPAGG for discussion at meeting on 17.6.09
Version 0.4
Date
August 2009
Summary of change/ process
Endorsed at Governance Committee Sub Group subject to minor amendment and clarification of 6.1 Approved at SPAGG meeting pending minor changes
Version 0.2
Date
March 2025
Summary of change/ process
Reviewed and updated by Michelle Aslett
Version 2
Date
March 2025
Summary of change/ process
Reviewed and updated by Michelle Aslett
Version 2
Date
March 2025
Summary of change/ process
Reviewed and updated by Michelle Aslett
Disclaimer
These Guidelines are intended for use by healthcare professionals and the expectation is that they will use clinical judgement, medical, and nursing knowledge in applying the general principles and recommendations contained within. They are not meant to replace the many available texts on the subject of palliative care.
Some of the management strategies describe the use of drugs outside their licensed indications. They are, however, established and accepted good practice. Please refer to the current BNF for further guidance.
Whilst SPAGG takes every care to compile accurate information , we cannot guarantee its correctness and completeness, and it is subject to change. We do not accept responsibility for any loss, damage or expense resulting from the use of this information.