What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is the generic name for an opioid medication that is used to reverse an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids. Click here to brush up on opioid and addiction definitions. Naloxone can save lives because it can restore normal breathing in the event of an opioid overdose, as it will force the body to wake up and keep breathing.
In the event of an overdose, Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of overdose from drugs made from opium or opioids, including heroin, morphine, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl and more. Naloxone should be given to anyone who presents signs of overdose, this will help prevent severe breathing issues that can lead to death. Naloxone is only effective with opioids and will not reverse the effects of drugs not classified as an opioid.
Is Naloxone FDA approved?
There are two FDA-approved formulations: injectable meaning administering a liquid into a person’s body with a needle and a syringe, and prepackaged nasal spray meaning delivered locally in the nasal cavities. Naloxone is available in all 50 states.
As of March 29, 2023, the FDA approved an over-the-counter Naloxone Nasal Spray called Narcan. This action leads the way for the life-saving medication to reverse an opioid overdose to be sold directly to consumers in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online. The application to approve Narcan nasal spray for OTC use was granted priority review status and was the subject of an advisory committee meeting in February 2023, where committee members voted unanimously to recommend it be approved for marketing without a prescription. Read more >
This post is related to:
Returns, Reverse Distribution
