Naloxone

Before using Naloxone, emergency medical assistance should be requested by calling 9-1-1. Naloxone should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care.

Naloxone may be given by intravenous injection (into a vein), intramuscular injection (into a muscle), or subcutaneous injection (under the skin). The intravenous route is only recommended in emergency situations when a health care professional is present. The intramuscular route is recommended for use by caregivers or bystanders. Intramuscular injections may be given into the outer arm, upper thigh, or upper part of the buttocks.

The starting dose for children less than 1 year of age is 0.4 mg.

The usual starting dose of naloxone for people 1 year of age and older, is 0.4 mg to 2 mg. A dose of 0.4 mg may be repeated every 2 to 3 minutes as needed until the desired degree of reversal of symptoms is achieved. The protective effects of naloxone last for 30 to 90 minutes. Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are using the medication without consulting your doctor.

Store Naloxone at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may affect your heart rate; it may cause diarrhea; it may increase your blood pressure; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting; it may cause heavy perspiration; it may cause shakiness. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

0.4 mg/mL
Each mL of aqueous injectable solution contains 0.4 mg of naloxone hydrochloride. Nonmedicinal ingredients: sodium chloride 8.6 mg, methylparaben 1.8 mg, and propylparaben 0.2 mg (as preservatives), hydrochloric acid to adjust pH, and water for injection.

1 mg/mL
Each mL of aqueous injectable solution contains 1 mg of naloxone hydrochloride. Nonmedicinal ingredients: sodium chloride 8.35 mg, methylparaben 1.8 mg, and propylparaben 0.2 mg (as preservatives), hydrochloride acid to adjust pH, and water for injection.

0.4 mg/mL Preservative-free
Each mL of aqueous injectable solution contains 0.4 mg of naloxone hydrochloride. Nonmedicinal ingredients: sodium chloride 9 mg, hydrochloric acid to adjust pH, and water for injection.

Do not take Naloxone if you are allergic to naloxone or any ingredients of the medication.

There may be an interaction between naloxone and any of the following:

• cannabis
• Cobicistat
• Methylnaltrexone
• Nabilone
• Naloxegol

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Naloxone. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Naloxone.

Non-opioid overdoses: Naloxone does not reduce the effects of an overdose caused by other medications such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines, stimulants, alcohol, or other sedatives. Giving Naloxone to a person who is unconscious due to a non-opioid overdose is not likely to cause them more harm.

Opioid dependence: When given to a person who has been using opioids for a long time, naloxone may cause withdrawal symptoms similar to stopping the opioid suddenly. These symptoms can include body aches, diarrhea, nausea, nervousness, restlessness, runny nose, sneezing, goose bumps, shaking, shivering, nausea, stomach cramps, fast or irregular heart rate, Fever, sweating, increased blood pressure, and possible seizures.

Rebound opioid toxicity: The effects of naloxone are shorter than the effects of opioids. As a result, symptoms of overdose may reappear when naloxone wears off. Additional doses of naloxone may be required.

Recent surgery: Naloxone should be used with caution in someone who has had recent surgery. Side effects such as blood pressure changes, increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, fluid build-up in the lungs and Heart Attack have been reported.

Pregnancy: The effects of naloxone on a developing baby are unknown. Naloxone should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if naloxone passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Naloxone, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

This product must be used in one nostril. To use: Emergency medical assistance (911) must be requested. The patient should be placed in the supine position. Provide support to the back of the neck to allow the head to tilt back. The device nozzle should be inserted in either nostril. The piston of the device must be firmly pressed. The device nozzle should be removed from the nostril after use. The patient should be turned on the side. Generally, this medication is used only as needed. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed.