Naloxone

Pain, Itching, Septic Shock + 7 more

Treatment

8 FDA approvals

20 Active Studies for Naloxone

Treatment for

Pain

What is Naloxone

Naloxone

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Naloxone is a medication used to reverse the effects of opioid drugs, such as morphine, hydromorphone, methadone, heroin, and fentanyl. It works by blocking opioid receptors in the body and preventing opioids from having an effect. Naloxone is most commonly used to treat opioid overdoses, which can cause symptoms like difficulty breathing, reduced heart rate, slurred speech, drowsiness, and constricted pupils. It is available as an injection (brand name Narcan) or nasal spray, and is sometimes included in the combination product Suboxone with buprenorphine for the maintenance treatment of opioid

Narcan

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Naloxone Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Narcan

Naloxone

1971

241

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Naloxone, otherwise called Narcan, is approved by the FDA for 8 uses including Pain and Opioid Dependence .

Pain

Used to treat moderate Pain in combination with Pentazocine

Opioid Dependence

Used to treat Opioid Dependence in combination with Buprenorphine

Septic Shock

Pain

Used to treat Severe Pain in combination with Pentazocine

Opioid-Related Disorders

Used to treat Opioid Dependence in combination with Buprenorphine

Septic Shock

Opioids

Respiratory Insufficiency

Effectiveness

How Naloxone Affects Patients

Naloxone is a medicine used to reverse opioid overdoses. It works quickly, but may need to be taken multiple times since it wears off sooner than opioids. It will not have any effect if the person has not taken opioids. When taking naloxone, people may experience withdrawal symptoms and the effects of the overdose may not be completely reversed if other drugs are present.

How Naloxone works in the body

Naloxone blocks opioids from binding to the body's opioid receptors. This reverses the effects of opioids and can be used to treat overdoses. If a patient has not taken opioids, naloxone won't have much of an effect.

When to interrupt dosage

The suggested dosage of Naloxone is contingent on the determined condition, such as Opioid Dependence, Pain and Septic Shock. The amount of dosage also varies as per the method of delivery (e.g. Spray, metered or Tablet) as detailed in the table below.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Opioids

, 0.4 mg/mL, 1.0 mg/mL, 0.5 mg, 2.0 mg, 0.4 mg, 40.0 mg/mL, 4.0 mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 5.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 2.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 3.0 mg, 2.9 mg, 0.36 mg, 0.71 mg, 1.4 mg, 2.1 mg, 0.18 mg, 0.7 mg, 0.3 mg, 4.0 mg/mL, 0.02 mg/mL, 1.8 mg, 80.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL

, Intramuscular; Intravenous; Subcutaneous, Injection, solution, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous; Subcutaneous, Parenteral, Injection - Parenteral, Injection, Injection - Intramuscular; Intravenous; Subcutaneous, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Sublingual, Tablet - Sublingual, Film, soluble, Film, soluble - Sublingual, Intramuscular; Subcutaneous, Injection, solution - Intramuscular; Subcutaneous, Liquid - Intramuscular; Intravenous; Subcutaneous, Liquid, Solution - Intramuscular; Intravenous; Subcutaneous, Solution, Nasal, Spray, Spray - Nasal, Tablet, extended release, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Sublingual, Spray, metered, Spray, metered - Nasal, Film, Film - Buccal, Buccal, Pill - Sublingual, Pill, Buccal; Sublingual, Film, soluble - Buccal; Sublingual, Film - Buccal; Sublingual, Intravenous, Injection - Intravenous, Tablet, film coated, extended release, Tablet, film coated, extended release - Oral, Parenteral; Topical, Inhalant, Inhalant - Nasal

Itching

Opioid-Related Disorders

Septic Shock

Respiratory Insufficiency

Opioids

Pain

Emergency Care

Opioids

Pain

Warnings

Naloxone Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions

Do Not Combine

Naloxone may interact with Pulse Frequency

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Naloxone.

Common Naloxone Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

(R)-warfarin

Major

The metabolism of (R)-warfarin can be decreased when combined with Naloxone.

(S)-Warfarin

Major

The metabolism of (S)-Warfarin can be decreased when combined with Naloxone.

1,2-Benzodiazepine

Major

The metabolism of 1,2-Benzodiazepine can be decreased when combined with Naloxone.

3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid

Major

The metabolism of 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid can be decreased when combined with Naloxone.

5-androstenedione

Major

The metabolism of 5-androstenedione can be decreased when combined with Naloxone.

Naloxone Toxicity & Overdose Risk

Naloxone has no significant effect on patients who have not taken opioids. The toxic dose of naloxone in mice and rats is greater than 1 g/kg when taken orally, 80 mg/kg when injected into the abdominal cavity, and 286 mg/kg when injected under the skin in mice, and 500 mg/kg when injected under the skin in rats.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Naloxone Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Naloxone?

64 active clinical trials are underway to assess the effectiveness of Naloxone in providing relief from Opioids, Opioids-Induced Pain and Pain.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Emergency Care

0 Actively Recruiting

Opioids

0 Actively Recruiting

Opioid-Related Disorders

0 Actively Recruiting

Septic Shock

0 Actively Recruiting

Respiratory Insufficiency

0 Actively Recruiting

Itching

2 Actively Recruiting

Phase 3, Not Applicable

Pain

0 Actively Recruiting

Opioids

7 Actively Recruiting

Phase 4, Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 1

Opioids

6 Actively Recruiting

Phase 2, Not Applicable, Early Phase 1, Phase 4

Pain

0 Actively Recruiting

Naloxone Reviews: What are patients saying about Naloxone?

Patient Review

11/15/2007

Naloxone for Toxic Amount of Narcotics in the Body

I'm not a fan of needles, but this treatment was necessary.

1.7

Patient Review

10/3/2009

Naloxone for Decrease in Rate & Depth of Breathing due to Opioid Drug

My husband was given this drug due to a misdiagnosis. Unfortunately, it caused brain damage as I have been warned by other doctors. Please be careful with this medication.

Patient Review

7/27/2011

Naloxone for Decrease in Rate & Depth of Breathing due to Opioid Drug

The side effects of this drug are so severe that I would never recommend it to anyone, even if it was the only treatment available.

Patient Review

2/22/2011

Naloxone for Decrease in Rate & Depth of Breathing due to Opioid Drug

I was not pleased with the effects of this drug. They were very debilitating and I think it's wrong to give someone a medication without them knowing what it is first.

image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about naloxone

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What type of opioid is naloxone?

"Naloxone is a drug that is used to counteract the effects of opioids. It works by attaching to the opioid receptors in the body and reverses the effects that other opioids have on the body. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if they have overdosed on opioids and their breathing has slowed or stopped."

Answered by AI

Is naloxone an opioid or opiate?

"The medication Naloxone is used to temporarily stop the effects of an opioid overdose, like slowed breathing. Increasing awareness and availability of this medication is a key way the public health system is responding to the opioid epidemic."

Answered by AI

What class of drug is naloxone?

"Naloxone injection is used to reverse the effects of opiates. It works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood."

Answered by AI