Most Patients Taking Opioid Painkillers Willing to Get Naloxone, Too

Most patients taking opioid painkillers are willing to fill a prescription for the opioid overdose antidote naloxone, a new small study suggests.

Prescribing naloxone to patients taking opioid painkillers is increasingly recommended by medical guidelines, HealthDay reports. However, currently naloxone is not routinely prescribed to patients taking opioid painkillers, the article notes.

The new study included 60 patients who received opioid painkiller prescriptions and were given prescriptions for naloxone. The study found 82 percent of patients filled their naloxone prescriptions. More than one-third of patients said they improved their drug-taking behavior after receiving naloxone. Some said they improved their handling of dosing and timing of doses. Three patients used naloxone to treat an apparent overdose.