Effects of intravenous oxycodone alone or in combination with naltrexone on measures of respiratory depression: a randomized placebo-controlled study

Abuse of prescription opioids, particularly by intravenous (IV) administration, can cause respiratory depression and death. ALO-02, an abuse-deterrent opioid formulation, is designed to release sequestered naltrexone upon manipulation by crushing, thereby antagonizing the pharmacologic effects of oxycodone. This exploratory post-hoc analysis examined the effects of IV administration of simulated crushed ALO-02 on end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2), a surrogate marker of respiratory depression