naloxone

Generic Name: naloxone (nah LOX own)

Brand Names: Narcan

What is naloxone?

Naloxone is an special narcotic drug that reverses the effects of other narcotic medicines.

Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of narcotic drugs used during surgery or to treat pain.

Naloxone may also be used to treat narcotic drug overdose or to diagnose narcotic drug addiction.

Naloxone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about naloxone?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to naloxone.

In an emergency situation it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your caregivers about your health conditions or if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received this medication.

Naloxone may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. If you are using any narcotic pain medication, the pain-relieving effects of the narcotic will be reversed while you are also receiving naloxone. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of naloxone.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using naloxone?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to naloxone.

If possible before you receive naloxone, tell your doctor if you have:

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  heart disease;

  
  


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  seizures;

  
  


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  a history of head injury or brain tumor; or

  
  


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  a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether naloxone will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether naloxone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use naloxone?

Naloxone is injected into a muscle or under the skin, or into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, kidney function, and other vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving naloxone. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with this medication.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Because you will receive naloxone in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include seizure (convulsions), feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while using naloxone?

Naloxone may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of naloxone.

Naloxone side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeats;

  
  


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  dry cough, wheezing, feeling short of breath;

  
  


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  sweating, severe nausea or vomiting;

  
  


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  severe headache, agitation, anxiety, confusion, ringing in your ears;

  
  


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  seizure (convulsions);

  
  


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  feeling like you might pass out; or

  
  


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  slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing (breathing may stop).

  
  

If you are being treated for narcotic drug addiction, the expected symptoms of withdrawal would include:

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  feeling nervous, restless, or irritable;

  
  


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  body aches;

  
  


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  dizziness, weakness;

  
  


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  diarrhea, stomach pain, mild nausea;

  
  


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  fever, chills, goosebumps; or

  
  


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  sneezing, runny nose.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Naloxone Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Opioid Overdose:

0.4 to 2 mg/dose IV/IM/subcutaneously. May repeat every 2 to 3 minutes as needed. Therapy may need to be reassessed if no response is seen after a cumulative dose of 10 mg.

Continuous infusion: 0.005 mg/kg loading dose followed by an infusion of 0.0025 mg/kg/hr.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Opioid Overdose:

Infants, Children, and Adolescents:
Opioid intoxication (full reversal):
IV (preferred) or Intraosseous (IO): Note: May be administered IM, Subcutaneous, or endotracheal tube (ET), but onset of action may be delayed, especially if patient has poor perfusion; ET preferred if IV or IO route not available; doses may need to be repeated.

Infants and Children less than or equal to 5 years or less than or equal to 20 kg: 0.1 mg/kg/dose; repeat every 2 to 3 minutes if needed; may need to repeat doses every 20 to 60 minutes.

Children greater than 5 years or greater than 20 kg and Adolescents: 2 mg/dose; if no response, repeat every 2 to 3 minutes; may need to repeat doses every 20 to 60 minutes.

ET: Optimal endotracheal dose unknown; current expert recommendations are 2 to 3 times the IV dose.

Manufacturer recommendations: IV (preferred), IM, Subcutaneous:
Initial: 0.01 mg/kg/dose; if no response, a subsequent dose of 0.1 mg/kg may be given
Note: If using IM or Subcutaneous route, dose should be given in divided doses.

Continuous IV infusion:
Children: If continuous infusion is required, calculate the initial dosage/hour based on the effective intermittent dose used and duration of adequate response seen; titrate dose; a range of 2.5 to 160 mcg/kg/hour has been reported; taper continuous infusion gradually to avoid relapse.

Respiratory depression [therapeutic opioid use (e.g., postanesthesia)]:
PALS Guidelines, 2010: IV: 0.001 to 0.005 mg/kg/dose; titrate to effect
Manufacturer recommendations: Initial: 0.005 to 0.01 mg/kg; repeat every 2 to 3 minutes as needed based on response.

Opioid-induced pruritus:
Children and Adolescents: Limited data available

What other drugs will affect naloxone?

If you are using any narcotic pain medication, the pain-relieving effects of the narcotic will be reversed while you are also receiving naloxone.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

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  buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex);

  
  


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  methohexital (Brevital); or

  
  


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  narcotic pain medication such as codeine (Tylenol #3), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin, Vicoprofen), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic), methadone (Methadose, Dolophine), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph), and many others.

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with naloxone. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More naloxone resources

• Naloxone Side Effects (in more detail)
• Naloxone Dosage
• Naloxone Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Naloxone Drug Interactions
• Naloxone Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Naloxone - Add your own review/rating

• Naloxone MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Naloxone Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Naloxone Hydrochloride Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Narcan Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare naloxone with other medications

• Opioid Overdose

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about naloxone.

See also: naloxone side effects (in more detail)