Naloxone
FDA APPROVES NALOXONE for OTC
On March 29, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray as an important step to increase public access to naloxone, a life-saving medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdose. Read more about this announcement. The IHS encourages all people to get training on overdose signs and symptoms and to carry naloxone if able.
Use the Naloxone Keeps the Circle Strong Pharmacist Guide [PDF - 52 KB] as a resource to help you explain and discuss the life saving benefits of naloxone nasal spray with patients. The guide covers:
- How to introduce naloxone
- How to describe what an overdose looks like and what to do
- How to explain why naloxone is important for your patient
Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse opioid overdose and can save lives. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses the depression of the central nervous and respiratory systems after an overdose of prescription opioids or heroin. This medication can quickly be administered by several easy-to-use devices. Family members, caregivers, and emergency responders should be trained to administer naloxone to populations at risk for opioid overdose. Below is an overview of the available formulations:
Intranasal Naloxone
This naloxone device is a prepackaged, ready-to-use, plastic unit that is given up the nose. The dose can be repeated every 2-3 minutes until initial response.
- Narcan® Quick Start Guide [PDF - 447 KB]
Naloxone Intramuscular Injection: Prefilled Syringe or Vial
Naloxone Intramuscular (IM) injection may come in a prefilled syringe or a vial. 1ml of naloxone can be injected into a large muscle such as the upper arm or thigh at a 90-degree angle. The dose can be repeated every 2-3 minutes until initial response.
