Opioid Safety

Accidental overdose can happen to anyone

Add a layer of protection while taking opioids.




Each of these medications is categorized as an opioid

Did You Know?

Hydrocodone- Ibuprofen
Pseudoephedrine- Hydrocodone
Codeine
Acetaminophen with Codeine Phosphate
Tramadol
Morphine
Oxymorphone
Fentanyl
Hydromorphone
Methadone
Oxycodone
Buprenorphine
Heroin

Anyone taking opioid painkillers is vulnerable to respiratory side effects, but certain factors can put them at higher risk:1-4

  • Being opioid naive / Taking opioids for the first time
  • Respiratory condition(s) such as sleep apnea
  • Combining opioids with other sedating medications, such as benzodiazepines and/or alcohol
  • Older age (65+)
  • Taking high prescribed doses (>50 MME)
  • Medical conditions such as HIV, liver or lung diseases, or mental health conditions
  • A history of addiction
  • Taking opioids for nonmedical purposes
  • Taking opioids again after stopping for an extended period of time

Recognize the Signs of Overdose

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognizing an opioid overdose can be difficult. When in doubt, treat the situation like an emergency. Call 911 or seek medical care immediately, and do not leave the person alone. Signs of overdose may include:5


  • Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
  • Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
  • Slow, shallow breathing
  • Choking or gurgling sounds
  • Limp body
  • Pale, blue, or cold skin


Still, symptoms may be silent. Without immediate help, death or permanent brain damage can occur in minutes.^

How to Respond to an Overdose

Follow these five steps if you think your loved one is experiencing an overdose:^

STEP

01

Check for the signs of opioid overdose.

STEP

02

Call 911 for help.

STEP

03

Administer naloxone if available.

STEP

04

Support their breathing.

STEP

05

Monitor their response.

Create a Safety Plan

Know when naloxone (e.g. Narcan®) is needed

Complement Naloxone with Monitoring

Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal drug that can be life-saving when used in time. However, it cannot be self-administered during an emergency.9 Monitoring can be a complement to naloxone by helping you know when early intervention may be required.

Masimo Halo App

Help Protect Your Loved One in Case of an Emergency

Opioid Halo detects high or increasing risk of overdose and sends escalating alerts when help is needed.

Download now on the iOS App Store or Google Play.

Delivering Innovative Care Solutions for Over 25 Years

For over 25 years, Masimo has delivered innovative solutions that help physicians provide excellent care and keep their patients safe. Today, we're bringing the confidence of hospital monitoring technology to the comfort of your home.

Powered by Masimo SET®

  • The primary pulse oximetry at 9 of the top 10 U.S. hospitals,9 as ranked in the 2022-2023 U.S. News & Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll
  • Trusted by physicians for over 25 years and used to monitor over 200 million patients a year around the world10
  • Features multiple parallel signal processing engines for accurate and reliable readings
  • Demonstrated significantly fewer false alarms and more true alarms than conventional pulse oximetry technologies in hospital settings11
  • Accurate across all skin pigmentations12

"I had no idea. You can die when you’re taking these."
—Yvonne Gardner

Parker Stewart, Yvonne’s son, was a healthy 21-year-old who underwent a routine tonsillectomy, and stopped breathing after taking only half his prescribed dose of opioid painkillers. He died in his sleep while his wife slept beside him.

      3Gupta K et al. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2018;31(1):110-119.
      4Dunn KM et al. Annals of internal medicine. 2019;152(2):85-92.
      6McGrath S et al. J Patient Saf. 2020 14 Mar.
      8McGrath et al. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2016;42(7):293-302.
      10Estimate: Masimo data on file.
      11Shah et al. J Clin Anesth. 2012;24(5):385-91.
      *Opioid Halo continuously monitors certain physiological parameters that are indicative of opioid-induced respiratory depression – a sign of opioid overdose – in order to alert users and their emergency contacts so that action can be taken to avoid adverse consequences of an overdose.
      **FDA Drug Safety Alert. 4/13/23
      *** National Safety Council. Prescription opioid pain killer public opinion poll. October 2017.
      †Emergency contacts must agree to receive alerts.

      All other products, logos, or company names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.