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Results:

Eventually, data from six studies were included in this meta-analysis. The success rate of the intranasal and intramuscular/intravenous administration of naloxone in the management of opioid overdose in pre-hospital settings was 82.54%(95% CI: 57.97 to 97.89%) and 80.39%(95% CI: 57.38 to 96.04%), respectively. There was no difference between injectable (intramuscular/intravenous) naloxone and intranasal naloxone in the pre-hospital management of opioid overdose (Odds Ratio= 1.01; 95% CI: 0.42 to 2.43; P= 0.98). The onset of action of intranasal naloxone, however, was slightly longer than injectable naloxone (Standardized Mean Difference= 0.63; 95% CI: 0.07 to 1.19; P= 0.03). Additionally, the odds of needing a rescue dose was 2.17 times higher for intranasal naloxone than intramuscular/intravenous naloxone (OR= 2.17; 95% CI: 1.53 to 3.09; P< 0.0001). The prevalence of major side-effects …