Narcan will soon be available over the counter: What to know

Months after it was first approved for over-the-counter use, Narcan will finally hit pharmacy shelves next month.

Emergent BioSolutions, the manufacturer of the opioid overdose reversal drug, announced it would be providing a two-dose package for pharmacies nationwide starting in September, according to an Aug. 30 news release.

Narcan, the brand name for the drug naloxone, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter drug in March to try to mitigate the growing opioid crisis.

The FDA said the timeline for the drug to become available would be up to the manufacturer.

“Picking up NARCAN Nasal Spray at the store is not a sign that your family ‘has a problem,’ in fact it shows you are prepared just in case,” Penn Medicine physician Bonnie Milas said in the release. “It’s like buying a fire extinguisher to have at home – having the power to save a life of someone you love, someone you know, or someone that may need another chance.”

The drug will retail for $44.99 which includes two doses, the manufacturer said, and will be available in Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart and CVS, as reported by CNN.

Here’s what you need to know about the life-saving drug.

How does Narcan work?

Narcan is a nasal spray that contains the drug naloxone, known as an “opioid antagonist,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

It works by attaching itself to the opioid receptors in the body, blocking drugs like heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine from having an effect.

When administered during the early stages of an opioid-induced overdose, naloxone can reverse the symptoms and potentially save the life of the user, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Naloxone is also manufactured by other companies as a shot that can be given under the skin, the National Institute on Drug Abuse said, and the brand Zimhi injectable has been approved by the FDA.

Signs of an opioid overdose

Narcan should be administered as soon as someone begins to show symptoms of an opioid overdose, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says.

These can include, but are not limited to, loss of color in the face and clammy skin, loss of motor function, purple tint to fingernails or lips, vomiting or gurgling, becoming unconscious, slow breathing and slow heart rate or completely stopped heart rate.

If someone is exhibiting these signs, you should call 911 immediately. If the person stops breathing before emergency personnel arrive, begin chest compressions, the SAMHSA says.

It is at this point that Narcan should be administered to reverse the effects of the overdose.

Who should carry Narcan?

Once the drug is available in stores, anyone can purchase Narcan and have it ready in the case of the overdose of another person.

Narcan cannot be administered on yourself, so it is important for the loved ones around an opioid user to be prepared.

In almost 40% of opioid overdose deaths, there was another person present with the user, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“People who are taking high-dose opioid medications (greater or equal to 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day) prescribed by a doctor, people who use opioids and benzodiazepines together, and people who use illicit opioids like heroin should all carry naloxone,” the CDC says. “Carrying naloxone is no different than carrying an epinephrine auto-injector (commonly known by the brand name EpiPen) for someone with allergies. It simply provides an extra layer of protection for those at a higher risk for overdose.”

The US opioid crisis

Overdoses are a leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2021, there were nearly 51,000 overdose deaths in the country, according to CDC data. In the past 21 years, drug overdoses have killed more than 932,000 people, the CDC reported.

“The majority of overdose deaths involve opioids. Deaths involving synthetic opioids (largely illicitly made fentanyl) and stimulants (such as cocaine and methamphetamine) have increased in recent years,” the CDC said. “For every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more nonfatal overdoses, each one with its own emotional and economic toll.”

Millions of people in the U.S. have an opioid addiction, according to the CDC. Addiction is a “chronic and relapsing disease that can affect anyone.”

If you or a loved one shows signs of substance use disorder, you can seek help by calling the national hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or find treatment using SAMHSA’s online locator.