Naloxone FAQ
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Naloxone is a prescription drug that can reverse the effects of prescription opioid and heroin overdose. It can be helpful in preventing overdose deaths if administered in time.
Narcan® and Naloxone are chemically identical, however Narcan is the brand name form of Naloxone.
You can administer Naloxone nasally or by injection into a muscle or below the skin of a person suspected of an overdose.
Naloxone blocks opioids in the brain from binding to the receptors, alleviating some of the sedating effects of opioids.
Common symptoms are: unresponsiveness, clammy skin, discolored lips, slow or shallow breathing.
The out of pocket cost for naloxone nasal spray ranges between $70 and $150 for a two dose unit, depending on the formulation.
A pharmacist is allowed to dispense either two prefilled syringes in a kit for nasal use; a twin pack that contains two intramuscular naloxone auto-injectors, or a twin pack that contains two naloxone nasal sprays.
Health insurance drugs plans can vary greatly and many do pay some portion of the cost. Please consult with your health insurance to determine if they will cover naloxone.
The pharmacist is required to provide counseling which covers prevention, recognition, response, and administration of naloxone.
It is not harmful to the person. Narcan simply has no effect if the person has no opioids in their system. More information can be found at https://www.narcan.com/#isi_anchor
