A potential life saver in your pocket—ask about Kloxxado® (naloxone HCl) nasal spray 8 mg1
For many people, the most awkward part of a doctor visit isn’t necessarily the chilly exam room or flimsy gown—it’s talking about certain health concerns. Consider opioids, for example. If you take opioids (or live with someone who does), it makes sense to ask your doctor for the opioid overdose reversal medicine naloxone. However, many people feel uncomfortable or even embarrassed to ask for naloxone, even though it could mean the difference between life and death in an opioid overdose emergency.2,3
If you have ever asked yourself “Should I ask my doctor about naloxone?” you probably already know the answer. Read on to learn more about naloxone and why you may need this emergency safety measure in your home.
What is naloxone?
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of opioids.3 Kloxxado® (naloxone HCl) nasal spray 8 mg is one brand of naloxone nasal spray.1 There are others, including the brand Narcan® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 4 mg.4 Naloxone works in the brain, right at the opioid receptor, to reverse the effects of opioids and restore normal breathing in someone who has suffered an overdose.1,5 Anyone can give intranasal naloxone, and it’s been used to save countless lives over the 50-plus years it’s been available.6
Why are people using more naloxone?
Overdoses involving stronger opioids such as fentanyl are becoming increasingly common, and the standard 4-mg dose of naloxone (ie, Narcan®) might not be enough to counteract them in every case.7 Even if the first dose of naloxone appears to work, a person can fall back into overdose if the opioids outlast the effects of the medicine used to reverse it. Consider these statistics: 7
- 78% of opioid overdose reversals involved 2 or more doses of naloxone
- 30% used 3 or more doses
It’s important to act fast in an overdose emergency because just 4 minutes without breathing can cause permanent brain damage.8 Fortunately, Kloxxado® makes it easy to respond right away.1 It’s compact, easy-to-use and works quickly to reverse the effects of opioid overdose.1 Plus, Kloxxado® contains twice as much medicine per spray as Narcan® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 4 mg.1,4
Who needs naloxone?
Certain factors can increase the risk of opioid overdose. If you take opioids, your risk for accidental overdose may be higher if:9
- You’re taking high-strength opioids or long-term opioid therapy
- You’re taking a benzodiazepine (certain anxiety, insomnia or seizure medicines fall into this category—ask your doctor if you are not sure whether or not your medicine is a benzodiazepine)
- You have a certain respiratory condition such as COPD or sleep apnea
- You are being treated for mental illness
- You are currently in recovery or have a history of substance use disorder (SUD)
If any of these apply to you, consider asking your doctor about Kloxxado®.
Why is it so hard to ask about naloxone?
Even if you have a great relationship with your healthcare provider, it can be difficult to muster the courage to ask him or her about naloxone. Maybe you worry that your doctor will change their opinion of you, or worse, judge you unfairly. Perhaps you’re concerned that asking for naloxone will open a Pandora’s Box of questions (including an unwanted cross-examination of your lifestyle and habits). Or maybe you’ve had negative experiences with other healthcare providers when you’ve asked sensitive questions in the past. Whatever the case, it’s important to understand one thing: Your doctor is there to listen to your concerns and support your health.10 If you or someone you care about is at risk for an opioid overdose, naloxone could be a critical part of that support.
How should I ask for naloxone?
If you’re having trouble starting a conversation with your doctor about naloxone, consider these tips:10
Write it out. Putting pen to paper can help you organize your thoughts about naloxone. It may also help you to have your notes (ie, a “script”) in hand when you’re face to face with your doctor.
Practice. Rehearse your conversation about naloxone, either with a trusted friend or in front of a mirror at home. It may feel less intimidating in the moment if you are not saying these words out loud for the first time:
“At my opioid dose, should I have Kloxxado® at home, just to be safe?”
Lead with the basics. Consider starting the conversation with a list of your general health concerns. Once you get past the basics, move on to more sensitive topics (such as naloxone).
Why is it so important to be prepared?
Nearly 40% of fatal opioid overdoses occur while a bystander is present.11 But doing one simple thing may prevent an accidental opioid overdose from becoming fatal, and that’s being prepared with Kloxxado®. It only works if a person has opioids in their system, and has no effect if opioids are not present.6 So administering naloxone isn’t likely to harm someone, but it could save their life.5
Take control of your safety and the safety of those you care about. Talk to your doctor about the risk factors. Be ready with Kloxxado®.
Kloxxado® is a registered trademark of Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
Narcan® is a registered trademark of Emergent Devices 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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References
- Kloxxado® (naloxone HCl) nasal spray 8 mg [prescribing information]. Columbus, OH: Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.; 2021.
- Bennett AS, Freeman R, Des Jarlais DC, Aronson ID. Reasons People Who Use Opioids Do Not Accept or Carry No-Cost Naloxone: Qualitative Interview Study. JMIR Form Res. 2020;4(12):e22411.
- Naloxone DrugFacts. National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse website. Available at: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone. Accessed October 13, 2023.
- Narcan® (naloxone HCl) nasal spray 4 mg [prescribing information]. Plymouth Meeting, PA: Emergent Devices Inc.; 2021.
- 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 October 13, 2023.
- Jordan MR, Morrisonponce D. Naloxone. [Updated 2023 Apr 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441910/.
- Abdelal R, Banerjee A, Carlberg-Racich S, Darwaza N, Ito D, Shoaff J, Epstein J. Real-World Study of Multiple Naloxone Administration for Opioid Overdose Reversal Among Bystanders. JMCP. 2021;27(10-a):S54.
- Non-Fatal Opioid Overdose and Associated Health Outcomes Final Summary Report. US Department of Health and Human Services/ASPE website. Available at: https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_legacy_files//190846/Nonfatal.pdf. Accessed October 13, 2023.
- Risk Factors for Opioid Misuse, Addiction, and Overdose. US Department of Labor/Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs website. Available at: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/opioids/riskfactors. Accessed January 10, 2024.
- How to Talk to Your Doctor About Awkward Health Topics. Right as Rain/University of Washington Medicine website. Available at: https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/well/health/overcome-health-embarrassment. Accessed October 14, 2023.
- Overdose Deaths and the Involvement of Illicit Drugs. Urgent Need for Overdose Prevention Interventions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/featured-topics/VS-overdose-deaths-illicit-drugs.html. Accessed October 14, 2023.