Reversal of Alcoholic Coma by Naloxone

Excerpt

Recent experimental (1-2) and clinical (3-7) studies suggest that naloxone hydrochloride, generally considered to be a specific opiate antagonist, can reverse the effects of alcoholic intoxication. We report two cases of coma caused by ethanol; in each case, naloxone therapy aroused the patients promptly. Our observations suggest naloxone is not only useful in patients with opiate toxicity, but also may have broader therapeutic use.

Patient 1: A 20-year-old man was brought unconscious to Bergen Pines County Hospital on 11 August 1980 at 0332 h. On admission, his blood pressure was 128/80 mm Hg and pulse, 96/min; temperature, 35.8 °0C; and