In pediatric reversal of respiratory depression, what is the initial Narcan dose given IV/IO?

• A. 1 mg IM/IN
• B. 0.5 mg IV/IO
• C. 2 mg IV/IO
• D. 0.25 mg IM/IN

Answer: (B)

The key idea is to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression in children with naloxone using small, weight-based IV/IO boluses and careful titration. The starting dose is 0.1 mg/kg given IV or IO, reassessing after each dose. In practice this often translates to about 0.5 mg for a very small pediatric patient (roughly 5 kg). If the patient’s response is inadequate, you repeat 0.1 mg/kg doses every 2–3 minutes up to a per-dose maximum (and according to protocol, with close monitoring of breathing and consciousness). IM/IN routes have different dosing conventions, but for IV/IO reversal this weight-based bolus is the standard starting approach.