Alcohol induced discoordination is not reversed by naloxone

Abstract

It has previously been reported that prior administration of naloxone may prevent the decrement in performance produced by alcohol. To be of clinical value, however, naloxone must be shown to reverse rather than prevent this decrement. This study examined the effect of naloxone given after consumption of alcohol. A double blind balanced crossover protocol was used to examine the effect of either 1.2 mg or 10 mg naloxone on the sensory-motor impairment produced by blood alcohol concentrations maintained between 75 and 85 mg/100 ml. This alcohol concentration significantly impaired two measures of sensory-motor performance, but there was no evidence that either dose of naloxone could reverse this decrement. We tested our subjects for a chlorpropamide alcohol flush but none gave a positive response. These results indicate that naloxone (1.2 mg or 10 mg) does not reverse the sensory-motor impairment produced by alcohol intoxication in subjects who do not exhibit a chlorpropamide alcohol flush. Nearly all the subjects exhibited somnolence after receiving alcohol and naloxone (1.2 mg or 10 mg) but not after receiving alcohol and saline.