Naloxone, also knows by the brand name of Narcan, is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist – meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids. It can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a result of overdosing with heroin or prescription opioid pain medications.
Opioids suppress the body’s urge to breathe. If someone is not breathing or is struggling to breathe, they are experiencing an overdose. Other signs of overdose are blue or pale skin color, small pupils, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat, slow or shallow breathing, and snoring sounds.
Iowans do not need a prescription to obtain naloxone, and anyone can purchase the medication to have in case of emergency. In 2016 Patricia Quinlisk, the state health department’s medical director, signed a “standing order” for naloxone, in an effort to provide access to this life saving medication. The order effectively serves as a prescription allowing pharmacies to distribute the medications to anyone who wishes to purchase.
To obtain more information, or to purchase, contact your local pharmacy. If your pharmacy does not participate in the program, they can direct you to a pharmacy that does.
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No, it only works to reverse an overdose involving opioids.
Yes, naloxone is a very safe drug and will not adversely impact someone who has overdosed on other drugs or alcohol.
Naloxone only last for 30 to 90 minutes so it’s possible that the person could go into respiratory arrest again due to the opioids still in their system. Medical professionals can help provide the necessary treatment to prevent respiratory failure.
Yes, overdoses involving fentanyl may require repeated administrations of naloxone to restore breathing.
In addition to some independent drugstores, Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite Aid, Target and WalMart are providing naloxone in many states through their pharmacies without requiring a prescription. You can also find training programs and naloxone here.
Price and availability vary. However, some formulations, including the most expensive, are increasingly covered by insurance policies. In some states, insurers still only cover naloxone for patients — people who are taking/using opioids. In other states, insurance will also cover naloxone for third parties (e.g. concerned family or community members). Contact your insurer, pharmacist or Health Department to find out what is covered in your state. Even when insurance is not available, some manufacturers will provide naloxone at no charge for people who cannot purchase it through insurance or other means if requested by their physician. Contact the manufacturer’s website – such as Evzio or Narcan – for information on these programs.
There is an expiration date on naloxone, however research indicates that it can be effective well beyond the expiration date on packaging; in some cases months and years later. The safest practice is to get a replacement (setting a reminder on your phone’s calendar) but in the case of an emergency, it’s better to use an expired dose than to not administer anything.
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