Naloxone

Naloxone is the generic name of the brand-name drugs Narcan and Evzio.

Naloxone is used to treat overdoses of opioid medications like Avinza, Astromorph PF, Duramorph, Infumorph, Kadian, or MS Contin (morphine); Zohydro (hydrocodone); and opium.

It's also one of the active ingredients in prescription drugs that contain two or more active ingredients, like Bunavail, Suboxone, and Zubsolv.

Naloxone belongs to a group of drugs known as opioid antagonists, which work by preventing drugs or substances in the opium family from binding to areas outside of cells where they'd normally have an effect.

Originally manufactured by Endo Pharms, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved naloxone under the brand name Narcan in 1971.

The Narcan brand was later discontinued in the United States.

Naloxone Warnings

You shouldn't take naloxone if you're allergic to naloxone or any of the drug's inactive ingredients.

Ask your doctor about naloxone if you:

• Have kidney or liver problems
• Have heart disease
• Are already addicted to drugs related to opium

You should tell your doctor about all prescription, non-prescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you're taking, especially:

• Any drugs in the opioid family, including codeine; Zohydro (hydrocodone); Abstral, Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, methadone, Demerol, Lazanda, or Subsys (fentanyl); Dilaudid (hydromorphone); and Opana or Opana ER (oxymorphone)
• Drugs that contain topiramate, like Topamax or Qsymia
• Conzip, Rybix, Ryzol, Ultram, or Ultracet (tramadol)
• The supplement yohimbine

Naloxone and Alcohol

Try to avoid or limit drinking while taking naloxone.

The two substances have some similar side effects, which could become worse when used together.

Naloxone is part of the drug class:

• Antidotes

Serious side effects have been reported with naloxone. See the “Naloxone Precautions” section.

Common side effects of naloxone include the following:

• Changes in heart rhythm
• Shortness of breath
• Reversal of analgesia
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Fast heart rate
• Trembling
• Seizures
• Pulmonary Edema
• Cardiac Arrest
• Paraesthesia
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Respiratory Depression
• Hypoxia
• Injection Site Reactions
• Low blood pressure
• Increased Blood Pressure
• Hot flushes
• Flushing

This is not a complete list of naloxone side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If you take too much naloxone, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If naloxone is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Drug Dependence

Naloxone hydrochloride injection should be administered cautiously to persons, including newborns of mothers, who are known or suspected to be physically dependent on opioids. In such cases an abrupt and complete reversal of opioid effects may precipitate an acute withdrawal syndrome.

The signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal in a patient physically dependent on opioids may include, but are not limited to, the following: body aches, diarrhea, tachycardia, fever, runny nose, sneezing, piloerection, sweating, yawning, nausea or vomiting, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, shivering or trembling, abdominal cramps, weakness, and increased blood pressure. In the neonate, opioid withdrawal may also include: convulsions, excessive crying, and hyperactive reflexes.

Repeat Administration

The patient who has satisfactorily responded to Naloxone should be kept under continued surveillance and repeated doses of Naloxone should be administered, as necessary, since the duration of action of some opioids may exceed that of Naloxone.

Respiratory Depression Due to Other Drugs

Naloxone is not effective against respiratory depression due to non-opioid drugs and in the management of acute toxicity caused by levopropoxyphene. Reversal of respiratory depression by partial agonists or mixed agonist/antagonists, such as buprenorphine and pentazocine, may be incomplete or require higher doses of Naloxone. If an incomplete response occurs, respirations should be mechanically assisted as clinically indicated.

Naloxone hydrochloride injection is an opioid antagonist. Physical dependence associated with the use of Naloxone hydrochloride injection has not been reported. Tolerance to the opioid antagonist effect of Naloxone is not known to occur

(nal OKS one)

• Antidote
• Opioid Antagonist

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use naloxone only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Copyright 1996-2018 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01.

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