Myths about naloxone are common, so you need to get the facts. In this blog, learn more about life-saving naloxone and how it reverses the effects of opioids.
What is Naloxone HCI?
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can quickly reverse the powerful effects of opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine.1 (Kloxxado® (naloxone HCl) nasal spray 8 mg is one example of an intranasal naloxone product that is safe, portable, and easy to have on hand.2) Although naloxone has been used as an effective antidote to opioid overdose for more than 50 years, myths about naloxone are common.3-6 Read on to find out more about the myths about naloxone, as well as the facts about this important medicine.
Naloxone Myth #1: I might get in trouble if I give someone naloxone
If you’re reluctant to give another person naloxone because you don’t want to get in trouble with law enforcement, chances are you have nothing to worry about.7 Many states have Good Samaritan laws in place that may protect a person who gives naloxone to someone experiencing an overdose.7 These laws, which vary by state, may also protect individuals from prosecution or arrest for drug possession or use.7 If you encounter someone you believe to be experiencing an opioid overdose and naloxone is available, you should administer it to them.1 It could be a matter of life or death.
Myth #2: One dose of naloxone is enough to reverse an overdose
Unfortunately, a single 4-mg dose of naloxone is not always enough to successfully reverse an opioid overdose.8,9 In fact, research shows that the percentage of opioid overdose events where 2 or more 4-mg doses of naloxone nasal spray were used is rising—from 35% in a 2016 study9 to as high as 78% in a 2021 study9. The surge of illicitly-manufactured fentanyl flooding this country may be to blame.10 Kloxxado®, which contains twice as much naloxone per spray as Narcan® (Naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 4 mg, is powerful enough to counteract fentanyl.2,11
Myth #3: Naloxone encourages more drug use or riskier drug use
Some people are concerned that making naloxone widely available could reduce the negative consequences of substance abuse.4 Others worry that the availability of naloxone might encourage riskier usage patterns.4 Research, however, shows that neither necessarily is true.4 In fact, some studies have shown that access to naloxone may result in decreased use of opioids.4,7 How and why is not entirely clear, but it is believed that the availability of naloxone may actually promote safer opioid usage.7
Myth #4: Naloxone is another drug that can be abused
Naloxone is not addictive, and it cannot be taken in advance of drug use to prevent an overdose.12 It should also be noted that naloxone generally will not have any effect on or cause additional harm to someone in the midst of a medical emergency caused by something other than an opioid overdose (such as a diabetic coma or cardiac arrest).1 Naloxone has been used to address opioid overdoses for decades.3 If you think that someone is overdosing, you should not hesitate to give them naloxone.1
Myth #5: Naloxone prevents substance users from seeking treatment
Some people believe that providing naloxone to reverse an overdose in a non-medical setting (such as a home) could encourage the person who was revived to continue using and/or put off seeking help for their substance use disorder.5 There is, however, no evidence to support this notion.5 To the contrary, a near-death experience brought on by an opioid overdose may be the motivation a person needs to seek treatment and maintain recovery.
Myth #6: Naloxone makes people violent
People with physical dependence on opioids may experience withdrawal symptoms within minutes after they are given naloxone.14 These symptoms may include headaches, changes in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting and shaking.13 It is unusual, however, for someone to wake up from an overdose and become violent or combative.14,15
Myth #7: Only healthcare professionals are qualified to give naloxone
You do not need medical training to give naloxone to someone who has overdosed.3
If you find yourself in the presence of someone experiencing an opioid overdose, call 911 and give them naloxone right away.12 After you give the naloxone, stay with the person.12 Try to keep them awake and breathing, and lay them on their side until emergency medical care arrives.12
Watch a videoe on how to use naloxone now.
Myth #8: Naloxone is hard to get
Naloxone is available in all 50 states.16 (Kloxxado®, for example, is widely available and with the Kloxxado® Savings Card, you could pay as little as $0* for it.) Ask your doctor or pharmacist about keeping naloxone on hand for emergencies if you or someone you know is taking prescribed opioids or using illicit opioids.16 The cost of naloxone varies depending on where and how you obtain it, your insurance coverage (if you are insured) and other factors.16 If money is a concern, contact your local health department. There may be community programs in your area that provide naloxone for free or at a reduced cost.16
*Maximum value of $40 per box. The Kloxxado® Savings Card is not health insurance. See complete eligibility and restrictions at Kloxxado.com.
Kloxxado® is a registered trademark of Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
Narcan® is a registered trademark of Emergent Operations Ireland Limited.
Please see the Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Kloxxado® for complete product details.
NOTE: This article was not written by a medical professional and is not intended to substitute for the guidance of a physician. These are not Hikma’s recommendations, but rather facts and data collected from various reliable medical sources. For a full list of resources and their attributing links, see below.
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References
- Access to Naloxone Can Save a Life During an Opioid Overdose. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/access-naloxone-can-save-life-during-opioid-overdose. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- KLOXXADO® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray [prescribing information]. Columbus, OH: Hikma Specialty USA Inc., 2021.
- Jordan MR and Morrisonponce D. Naloxone. 2023 April 29. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. PMID: 28722939.
- Jones JD, et al. No Evidence of Compensatory Drug Use Risk Behavior among Heroin Users after Receiving Take-Home Naloxone. Addict Behav. 2017;71:104–106.
- Naloxone Myths Debunked. Indiana State Government website. Available at: https://www.in.gov/health/overdose-prevention/files/47_naloxone-myths-debunked.pdf. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Naloxone Myths and Facts Sheet. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy/Program Evaluation and Research Unit website. Available at: https://www.peru.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Naloxone-Myths-Facts-Handout.pdf. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Non-prescription (“Over-the-Counter”) Naloxone Frequently Asked Questions. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website. Available at: https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/opioid-overdose-reversal-medications/over-the-counter-naloxone-faqs. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Avetian GK, et al. Use of naloxone nasal spray 4mg in the community setting: a survey of use by community organizations. Curr Med Res Opin. 2018;34(4):573-576.
- Abdelal R, Banerjee R, et al. Real-world study of multiple naloxone administration for opioid overdose reversal among bystanders. Harm Reduct J. 2022. 19:49.
- Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration/Drug Fact Sheet. Drug Enforcement Administration website. Available at: https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Fentanyl%202022%20Drug%20Fact%20Sheet-update.pdf. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Narcan® (naloxone HCl) nasal spray 4 mg [prescribing information]. Plymouth Meeting, PA: Emergent Devices Inc.; 2021.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Naloxone. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/naloxone/faq.html. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Naloxone DrugFacts. National Institute on Drug Abuse website. Available at: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone. Accessed April 19, 2024.
- Fisher R, O’Donnell D, Ray B, Rusyniak D. Police Officers Can Safely and Effectively Administer Intranasal Naloxone. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2016. 20(6):675-680.
- Nath JM, Scharf B, Stolbach A, et al. A Longitudinal Analysis of a Law Enforcement Intranasal Naloxone Training Program. Cureus. 2020. 12(11):e11312. DOI 10.7759/cureus.11312.
- 5 Things to Know About Naloxone. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/featured-topics/naloxone.html. Accessed April 19, 2024.