New Research Reveals Multiple Naloxone Doses Typically Involved in Successful Opioid Overdose Reversals 

A new study from Hikma Community Health™* showed more than one 4 mg dose of naloxone nasal spray often is involved in an opioid overdose reversal incident.¹ The results of its MORE study† were published in the Harm Reduction Journal in May 2022. Keep reading for more information on the study.

Objectives of the MORE study^†:

• Learn how many naloxone doses typically are involved in an opioid overdose reversal episode.¹
• Find out if individuals who had given Narcan®(naloxone) Nasal Spray 4 mg to reverse an opioid overdose would have preferred to use a higher-strength nasal spray.¹
• Describe withdrawal symptoms after naloxone doses have been administered to reverse an opioid overdose.¹

How the study was conducted:

Hikma researchers asked 125 US residents (70% female; 78% white) who had given Narcan^® Nasal Spray to another person in the past year (54% of those receiving Narcan® Nasal Spray were male; 86% were white) to take part in an internet survey.¹ The investigators then asked 35 participants to complete an open-ended voice survey.¹

Key Study Findings:

• 78% of opioid overdoses reversed involved 2 or more doses of a typical 4 mg nasal spray (also known as multiple naloxone administrations, or MNA).¹
• 30% involved 3 or more doses.¹
  • In about half of the overdoses studied, additional sprays of naloxone were given by someone other than the person who gave the initial dose.¹
• Given a choice, 77% of those surveyed said that they would prefer to use an 8 mg naloxone nasal spray than a 4 mg spray in an overdose situation.¹
  • 86% of participants said they would have more confidence in an 8 mg naloxone nasal spray than in a 4 mg.¹
  • More than 90% said they were worried that a single box of Narcan^® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 4 mg would not be enough to successfully reverse an opioid overdose.¹
• Details on withdrawal symptoms based on whether or the patients received 1 spray or 2+ sprays can be reviewed in the full study.¹

Conclusions:

According to study participants, MNA occurred in most overdose events.¹ As such, participants said they strongly preferred and had more confidence in an 8 mg nasal spray than a 4 mg spray.¹ These data suggest the need for a higher-dose naloxone spray option.¹ Because a bystander is most likely to be the first person to administer naloxone to someone in the midst of an opioid overdose, it is critical to ensure that they have access to enough naloxone to reverse the overdose.¹ Enabling people to arm themselves with more naloxone to use in the event of an overdose situation may help to curtail the rising mortality rate associated with the opioid epidemic.¹

The study abstract can be found at MoreNaloxone.com and in Harm Reduction Journal.

Kloxxado^® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 8 mg provides more naloxone²^,³

Kloxxado® is indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system (CNS) depression, for adult and pediatric patients.² Kloxxado® provides twice as much medication per spray as Narcan (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 4 mg current intranasal formulations.²^,³

The full prescribing information for Kloxxado^® includes a number of warnings and precautions common to all currently marketed naloxone products.² These include risk of recurrent respiratory and CNS depression, risk of limited efficacy with partial agonists or mixed agonist/antagonists, precipitation of severe opioid withdrawal and risk of cardiovascular effects.²

Important Safety Information are listed at the bottom of the page. You can find the full PI here.

*Hikma Community Health is a subsidiary of Hikma Specialty USA Inc., a leading provider of quality oral, liquid, inhalant and injectable branded and non-branded generic medicines in the United States.

†Real-World Study of Multiple Naloxone Administration for Opioid Overdose Reversal Among Bystanders

Hikma Community Health™ is a trademark of Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

Narcan® is a registered trademark of Emergent Operations Ireland, Ltd.

Kloxxado® is a registered trademark of Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

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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