Naloxone in septic shock: report of two cases

Two cases are reported describing the use of intravenous naloxone in surgical patients with prolonged hypotension unresponsive to conventional intensive care, including dopamine, intravenous fluids, diuretics, and steroids.The findings were in agreement with those of previous reports suggesting that endorphins may contribute to the hypotension of sepsis and that naloxone's antagonistic effect on endorphin may have therapeutic value in the treatment of septic shock.