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OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION
Naloxone is used to treat an opioid overdose
(it works only for overdoses from opioids). It is
available as a nasal spray and in an injectable form.
A new medication, nalmefene, was recently approved
by the FDA to treat opioid overdose. However,
naloxone is less expensive, more readily available,
and currently the preferred medication for reversing
an opioid overdose.
Having naloxone available can help to save a person
who has taken so much opioid that they stop or have
trouble breathing.
If an overdose is suspected, call 911 immediately and
give naloxone as soon as possible.
More than one dose of naloxone may be needed to
reverse an overdose of high potency opioids, such as
fentanyl.
Naloxone may need to be given multiple times since
its effects may wear off before the opioid does.
To ensure patient safety, patients, their family
members, significant others, and friends should keep
naloxone on hand and should be trained in its use in
case of overdose.
The clinician should provide naloxone, or a
prescription for naloxone, for both the patient and
family members. In most states, naloxone is also
available without a prescription through the pharmacy.
After patients overdose it is important that they
either begin treatment for opioid addiction or work
with their clinician to adjust their treatment plan.
