The The opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and the solutions
Revista Ciencia y Salud / eISSN: 2215-4949 / https://revistacienciaysalud.ac.cr/ojs

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2023)Artículos

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2023)

The The opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and the solutions: A literature review: a literature review

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Keywords

fentanyl
fentanyl analogs
naloxone
opioid overdose

How to Cite

Sequeira Quesada, C. M. ., Lin Wu, E. L. W., & Lin Wu, A. (2024). The The opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and the solutions: A literature review: a literature review. Revista Ciencia Y Salud, 7(2), 111–122. https://doi.org/10.34192/cienciaysalud.v7i2.628 (Original work published June 15, 2023)

Abstract

The current opioid crisis is reinforced by the consumption and increased production of illicit fentanyl; its increasing mortality is related to the abuse of multiple substances such as benzodiazepines and alcohol. Surprisingly, the consumption of 95% of global opioids is by the West, which makes up 15% of the world population. Furthermore, fentanyl is a short-acting, lipophilic, synthetic opioid with greater analgesic potency than morphine. Additionally, the adulteration of other illicit drugs with fentanyl and its analogues increases the risk of overdose. The metabolism of fentanyl by cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 results in drug interactions dependent on this pathway. Meanwhile, naloxone is a non-competitive opioid receptor antagonist, with the ability to reverse respiratory depression. At the same time, cases of endocarditis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and other infections are increasing consequently. The acute clinical picture of overdose is highlighted by the depression of the respiratory centers and the central nervous system, miotic pupils, and loss of protective reflexes of the airway; treatment consists of the use of naloxone and management of complications. In the long term, strategies must be implemented, to provide maintenance and rescue treatment, and reinforce prevention. In any case, the goal of this review is to summarize the latest information about opioid crises, especially fentanyl, and to provide clinicians with the ability to diagnose, treat, prevention by becoming part of the new strategies.

https://doi.org/10.34192/cienciaysalud.v7i2.628
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2023 Carlos Mario Sequeira Quesada, Edwin Lin Wu Lin Wu, Allan Lin Wu

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