Towards evidence-based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Diagnosis of drug overdose by rapid reversal with naloxone

A short-cut review was carried out to establish whether naloxone may have an awakening effect in patients who have not taken opiates, thereby clouding its use as a diagnostic manoeuvre. The clinical bottom line is that opioid antagonists are able to reverse symptoms such as altered consciousness in patients who have not taken an overdose of opiates. It is unclear in which conditions or circumstances this occurs.