Brief Report: Higher Fentanyl Exposures Require Higher Doses of Naloxone for Successful Reversals in a Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Model

Abstract

Background: Previously, we reported on an opioid receptor quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model to evaluate naloxone Methods: In this study, we extended our model to include higher systemic levels of fentanyl (up to 100 ng/ml) and the newly approved 8mg IN naloxone dose (equivalent to 4 mg) Results: As expected, at the lower peak fentanyl concentrations (25 ng/ml and 50 ng/ml), the simulations predicted that 2 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg IM doses of naloxone displaced fentanyl and reached below the 50% receptor occupancy within 10 minutes. However, at the concentration of 75 ng/ml, the simulation predicted that the 2 mg dose of naloxone failed to reach below the 50% occupancy within 10 minutes. Interestingly, at the highest peak concentration of fentanyl studied (100 ng/ml), the model predicted that the 4 mg of naloxone IM (equivalent to 8 mg IN) failed to reach below the threshold of 50 % occupancy within 10 minutes or even within 15 minutes (data not shown). In contrast, the model predicted successful reversals when 5 and 10 mg IM doses were utilized. Conclusion: These results support the notion that acutely administered higher doses of naloxone are needed for rapid and adequate clinical reversal, particularly when higher systemic exposure of the potent synthetic opioids occurs.