5 Important Things You Must Know About Naloxone
                     5 Important Things You Must Know About Naloxone
Naloxone
Naloxone, sold under the brand name 
Narcan among others, is a medication 
used to block the effects of 
opioid addiction. It is commonly used to 
counter decreased breathing in opioid 
overdose. Naloxone may also be 
combined with an opioid, to decrease 
the risk of opioid misuse.
1 Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal drug.
Naloxone is a generic drug that is also known by the brand-name, 
Narcan. First responders, including police officers, paramedics, and ER 
doctors, use naloxone frequently to reverse opioid overdoses. The way 
that naloxone works is that it blocks opioid receptors. It is such a potent 
blocker that it knocks opioid molecules off of the receptors, and it keeps 
them away by continually blocking.
2 Naloxone has been around for a long time.
Naloxone has been around for a long time. You can get naloxone 
without a doctor’s prescription. During the past few years, we have 
heard a lot about Narcan, naloxone, and harm reduction. The fact is 
that naloxone became patented in 1961. The FDA approved 
naloxone to treat opioid overdoses ten years later.
3 Naloxone does not last for very long.
Since you may find yourself, one day, in a situation where you 
must administer Narcan to someone who has just overdosed on an 
opioid, you must understand that naloxone wears off quickly. It 
starts working in minutes, but the effects may only last for an hour 
or less.
4 Naloxone has no potential for abuse.
If you are someone who has experience in addiction treatment or 
healthcare, you already know that naloxone has no potential for 
abuse. There is no need to keep the Narcan locked up to keep it 
safe in rehab or a sober living home. A person who is addicted to 
opioids or any other drug has no way to get high with naloxone. It 
simply isn’t possible.
5 Naloxone is just one component of harm reduction.
Harm reduction means to help people stay safe, healthy, and alive 
during the time that they continue using drugs. A naloxone dose given 
promptly can save a life. Naloxone is a vital part of harm reduction, 
but there is more to it than just carrying Narcan.
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Do all doctors prescribe naloxone?
It is good idea for doctors to document that they are in favor of their 
patients having Narcan by writing the Narcan prescription and having 
a conversation about it. Doctors should prescribe Narcan nasal spray 
to any patient who takes opioids, prescribed or abused, and to any 
patient who comes in contact with someone who uses opioids.
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