Understanding emerging high potency opioids: effects and naloxone dosing

This presentation will provide an overview of the pharmacology potent synthetic opioids and discuss the emergence and clinical relevance of the differing characteristics of these opioids. Recent literature on pharmacological effects of nitazenes and other potent synthetic opioids was reviewed. Characteristics of etonitazene, clonitazene, isotonitazene, brorphine, metonitazene, etonitazepipne, protonitazene. etazene, 2-methyl-AP-237, butonitazene. N-desethyl isotonitazene, N-pyrrolidino protonitazene and N-pyrrolidino metonitazene will be summarised, including a synthesis of evidence around naloxone efficacy with different potent synthetic opioids. Comparisons on relative potency (based on behavioural studies), duration of action and effects unique to specific opioids (including ‘wooden chest syndrome’) will be discussed, with a focus on what is relevant for harm reduction responses.

Suzanne Nielsen | Professor and NHMRC Leadership Fellow, Monash Addiction Research Centre

Professor Suzanne Nielsen (BPharmSc[Hons] PhD MPS) is a pharmacist and Deputy Director of the Monash Addiction Research Centre in Melbourne. Her research focuses on understanding prescription, over-the-counter and emerging drug-related problems, and identifying effective policy and practice interventions to reduce opioid-related harm.

Credited Persons

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