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Naloxone, also known as Narcan®, is a medication that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Here’s how it works, how to access it, and other essential facts you should know.
It’s possible to overdose on all types of drugs, but opioid overdoses are particularly dangerous. This is because an opioid overdose slows down a person’s breathing.
If a person’s breathing slows to dangerous levels, it can result in brain damage and, in some cases, death.
Naloxone is a medication used to temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, allowing the person to breathe again while help is on the way.
It is a remarkable medicine – easy to use, with very few side effects, and no capacity for misuse.
Naloxone works by blocking the body’s opioid receptors, which then prevents the opioid drugs from working.
However, it’s important to know that this effect is only temporary – it’s vital that you still seek emergency help. Naloxone buys time for emergency assistance to arrive.
Download our naloxone factsheet.
It can be hard to know when a person is having an opioid overdose because they may seem to be sleeping. However, signs may include:
If you suspect someone may have overdosed on opioids, call for emergency assistance immediately.
Learn more about the signs of an opioid overdose.
Naloxone is available in two forms:
Naloxone typically lasts for 30 to 90 minutes after first being administered. If a person does not respond to the first dose, you can give repeated doses every two to three minutes.
If someone is dependent on opioids, a high dose of naloxone can bring on symptoms of opioid withdrawal. It’s important that they do not use opioids or other depressants for at least two hours.
Once the naloxone wears off, the person may overdose again even if they haven’t used any more opioids. If they do use in this time, there is an increased chance of overdosing again.
There are very few risks associated with naloxone use, and it can’t be misused to get high.
A very small number of people have hypersensitivity to naloxone, but this can be managed after the person has been revived.
If you give naloxone to someone who has not taken opioids, it will not have any adverse effects. That means you can safely give it to someone who is experiencing a drug overdose, even if you’re not sure if it is an overdose from opioids.
The type of naloxone available and how you access it depends on where you live.
Naloxone has been used for treating opioid overdose for decades, though its use has traditionally been restricted to medical settings.
In 1983 the World Health Organization (WHO) classified naloxone as an essential medicine. In 2014, the WHO issued guidelines recommending that people likely to witness an opioid overdose, including people who use opioids and their friends and family, should have access to naloxone and training in its use.
In most countries, doctors can prescribe naloxone. It may also be available from a drug store or pharmacy without a prescription. Some areas have programs where they give it out for free.
If you’re taking opioids, ask your doctor about naloxone and getting trained to use it. If they’re not sure about this, contact your local harm reduction organisation. You can also search online for availability in your area.
Anyone using opioids should keep a supply of naloxone at home. People they live with should know where it is, what it does and how to use it. If you overdose, you won’t be able to give it to yourself – someone else will have to do it for you.
Here are a few tips for handling naloxone:
