Intravenous lipid emulsion as a treatment in buprenorphine overdose - pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation in the rabbit model

Abstract

Despite being considered as valuable drugs for analgesia and anaesthesia under clinical conditions, opioids are also known to be a source of significant problems in terms of abuse and poisonings [1]. Although opioid receptor antagonists are available, the consequences of opioid overdose can lead to life-threatening respiratory depression that may require rapid intervention [2]. Based on that, we decided to test a new approach to the treatment of opioid poisoning. We investigated the applicability of a commercially available intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) as a potential remedy in acute opioid poisoning. ILE was already proven to be helpful in resuscitation during poisonings caused by various lipophilic substances, mainly local anaesthetics [3]. Based on that, we selected a lipophilic opioid – buprenorphine (BUP) to evaluate the potential impact of ILE administration on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of this drug in a rabbit model of acute overdose.