#269 Opioid Toxicity Explained | Recognition, Naloxone & Critical Care Management

WhiteBoard Medicine - Emergency And Critical Care · May 26, 2026 · 38m

Opioid toxicity remains one of the most important toxicologic emergencies encountered in emergency medicine, critical care, EMS, and hospital medicine. In this episode, we break down opioid overdose from the ground up including opioid pharmacology, respiratory depression physiology, recognition of the opioid toxidrome, naloxone administration, airway management, ventilator considerations, post-reversal monitoring, and ICU management strategies. We also discuss: • Hypoventilation and hypercapnia • End tidal CO2 monitoring • Pulmonary edema in opioid overdose • Long-acting opioids and recurrent…