Naloxone is used to treat a possible opioid overdose. An opioid overdose can be fatal, and symptoms may include severe drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, slow breathing, or no breathing.
In an emergency situation it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your caregivers about your health conditions or if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received naloxone.
A person caring for you can give the naloxone if you stop breathing or don't wake up. Make sure any person caring for you knows where you keep naloxone and how to use it.
Your caregiver must get emergency help after giving a naloxone injection. You may need another injection every 2 to 3 minutes until emergency help arrives.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of naloxone.
Naloxone may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
If you are using any narcotic pain medication, the pain-relieving effects of the narcotic will be reversed while you are also receiving this medicine.
Before taking this medicine
You should not be treated with this medicine if you are allergic to naloxone.
If possible before you receive a naloxone injection, tell your doctor if:
you have heart problems; or
you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Using naloxone while you are pregnant may cause opioid withdrawal effects in your unborn baby. However, having an opioid overdose can be fatal to both mother and baby. It is much more important to treat an overdose in the mother. You must get emergency medical help after using this medicine. Be sure all emergency medical caregivers know that you are pregnant.
If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks.
In an emergency, you may not be able to tell caregivers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows you received naloxone.
How is naloxone given?
Use naloxone exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Naloxone is injected into a muscle or under the skin. The injection may be given by a healthcare provider, emergency medical provider, or a family member or caregiver who is trained to properly give the injection.
If you are a caregiver or family member read all instructions when you first get this medicine. If provided, use the "trainer" device to practice giving an injection so you will know how to do it in an emergency. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Be sure you know how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose in the person you are caring for. Overdose symptoms may include:
slowed breathing, or no breathing;
very small or pinpoint pupils in the eyes;
slow heartbeats; or
extreme drowsiness, especially if you are unable to wake the person from sleep.
Even if you are not sure an opioid overdose has occurred, if the person is not breathing or is unresponsive, give the naloxone injection right away and then seek emergency medical care.
Do not assume that an overdose episode has ended if symptoms improve. You must get emergency help after giving a naloxone injection, even if the person wakes up. You may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on the person while you are waiting for emergency help to arrive.
Naloxone injected into a muscle is given in the outer thigh. In an emergency, you may give an injection through the person's clothing.
After injecting naloxone, stay with the person and watch for continued signs of overdose. You may need to give another injection every 2 to 3 minutes until emergency help arrives. Follow all medication instructions carefully.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not use the medicine if it has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medication.
