NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Madonna speaks onstage at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center … [+]
a report claims that Narcan (naloxone) revived Madonna who was suffering from septic shock. The pop diva was found unresponsive at her home on June 24e. Those who discovered her apparently administered naloxone.
Subsequently, Madonna was rushed to an intensive care unit, where she was intubated at a New York City hospital for at least one night before the tube was removed.
Since reports of Madonna’s condition surfaced late last month, sepsis has been considered one of many possibilities why Madonna required intubation after she became unresponsive due to a serious bacterial infection.
Sepsis occurs when a person has an infection and their immune system overreacts. It can cause very low blood pressure and eventual organ failure. Septic shock is the final and most serious stage of sepsis.
According to reports Madonna had been battling a mild fever for a month before she collapsed. But the pop megastar apparently brushed it off, as she planned to continue rehearsing for her upcoming world tour. This isn’t surprising since Madonna’s work ethic and grueling schedule have been the subject of debate for years. At the age of 64, Madonna, whose birth name was Madonna Louise Ciccone, is the best-selling female recording artist of all time. She has sold 300 million records in a career spanning more than four decades.
The drug reportedly used two weeks ago to revive Madonna, naloxone, has had a labeled indication as a opioid antagonist since 1971. The drug is particularly indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose. In Madonna’s case, however, no real evidence has come to light that Narcan was used as an antidote to opiates.
Despite this, several media outlets including Jezebel, preoccupied with comments from Madonna about opioid use. For example, asked by Jimmy Fallon in October 2021 on The tonight show if she smoked or vaped, Madonna responded by saying, “I like opiates.”
However, such a statement does not necessarily say anything. It can be ironic or just to get people on their feet. More importantly, barring unsubstantiated speculation, it’s unknown if an opioid overdose two weeks ago was the culprit that caused Madonna’s unresponsive state.
However, questions remain about why Narcan was allegedly used. If someone notices someone unresponsive, septic shock probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Not only that, it requires laboratory testing to diagnose bacterial sepsis. Perhaps Narcan was administered as a precaution to counter a possible narcotic intoxication, in case opioids were involved. But at the moment there are no hard facts to support this.
What has been revealed to the public through Madonna’s manager, Guy Oseary, is that she has been in intensive care for several days after suffering a “serious bacterial infectionand that a “full recovery is expected.”
A serious bacterial infection coupled with reports that Madonna was intubated suggest the possibility of septic shock. And there is evidence from studies, albeit limited, regarding the off-label use of naloxone for hypotension related to septic shock.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Narcan can be administered for septic shock as an “additional use.” The product may be listed on reputable websites, such as drugs.com supplement to “cause a rise in blood pressure” when a person is suffering from septic shock. And, according to the FDA, Narcan has been shown in some cases of septic shock to be temporarily effective in addressing hypotension. Pfizer, one of many manufacturers of naloxone, makes a similar statement about its website.
At the same time, both the FDA and Pfizer are pointing out the side effects that can occur when naloxone is administered to patients with septic shock. Therefore, the FDA and Pfizer recommend “careful” in deciding whether to use naloxone for patients with septic shock.
Because Narcan is not typically administered in cases of septic shock, the public is ultimately left with more questions than answers about the alleged use of the drug in Madonna’s case.