How does naloxone help overdose?

Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone is a safe medicine. It only reverses overdoses in people with opioids in their systems.

Why is Narcan important?

What is Narcan? Also known as Naloxone, this drug blocks the absorption of opioids at the receptor-level. Opioids effect our respiration, which is why someone suffering from an overdose may stop breathing. By pausing the effects of the opioids in the body, Narcan saves lives by restoring the person’s breathing.

What happens if you take Narcan?

For example, Narcan can sometimes cause severe opioid withdrawal symptoms that lead to serious heart problems, including heart rhythm problems and heart attack. You may have a higher risk for heart problems from Narcan if you use other drugs that can also cause heart problems.

Why is narcan prescribed?

Naloxone is a prescription medicine that blocks the effects of opioids. It is used to treat opioid overdose by temporarily reversing the effects of opioid medicines and drugs. This helps a person to breathe again and wake up from an overdose.

Why is narcan given?

Narcan is used for emergency treatment of opioid overdose. It’s an opioid antagonist, which means it works by blocking certain receptors (attachment sites) in your body that opioids bind to. By blocking these receptors, Narcan helps to reverse symptoms of opioid overdose.

Does naloxone interact with other drugs?

A total of 30 drugs are known to interact with naloxone, categorized as 1 major, 27 moderate, and 2 minor interactions.

What are the interactions of naloxone?

Interactions

Drug	Interaction
Integrate drug-drug interactions in your software
1,2-Benzodiazepine	The metabolism of 1,2-Benzodiazepine can be decreased when combined with Naloxone.
Abacavir	Abacavir may decrease the excretion rate of Naloxone which could result in a higher serum level.

Is Narcan an opioid blocker?

Naloxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids, such as such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone.

When should you use Narcan?

When would you use naloxone? Naloxone is safe to give to a person who is unconscious because of an opioid overdose. If you are unsure of the cause of unconsciousness, giving naloxone is not likely to cause further harm to the person.

What precautions must be taken when using naloxone?

This medicine should be given immediately upon when a suspected or known overdose of an opioid has occurred. This will help prevent serious breathing problems and severe sleepiness that can lead to death. This medicine is for use only in the nose. Do not get any of it in the eyes or on the skin.

Does narcan interact with other drugs?