• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is naloxone?
Naloxone is an special narcotic drug that reverses the effects of other narcotic medicines. Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of narcotic drugs used during surgery or to treat pain. Naloxone may also be used to treat narcotic drug overdose or to diagnose narcotic drug addiction. Naloxone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of naloxone?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using naloxone and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain or fast or irregular heartbeats;

• feeling light-headed, fainting;

• seizure (convulsions); or

• difficulty breathing.

Less serious side effects may include:

• dizzines, weakness, tired feeling;

• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

• feeling nervous, restless, or excited;

• sweating;

• runny nose; or

• trembling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I use naloxone?
Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Naloxone is given as an injection under the skin, into a muscle, or into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

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What is the most important information I should know about naloxone?
Before using naloxone, tell your doctor if you are using any narcotic pain medicines. The pain-relieving effects of any narcotic medications you use will be reversed if you use them during your treatment with naloxone. Withdrawal symptoms could also occur, such as body aches, diarrhea, increased heart rate, fever, sweating, nausea or vomiting, irritability, trembling, weakness, and increased blood pressure. Your doctor may want to observe you after using naloxone to watch for side effects. Naloxone can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your healthcare provider if you miss a dose of naloxone.

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What other drugs will affect naloxone?
The pain-relieving effects of any narcotic pain medications you use will be reversed if you use them during your treatment with naloxone. Withdrawal symptoms could also occur, such as body aches, diarrhea, increased heart rate, fever, sweating, nausea or vomiting, irritability, trembling, weakness, and increased blood pressure. Your doctor may want to observe you after using naloxone to watch for side effects. Before using naloxone, tell your doctor if you use any of the following drugs: buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex);

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Naloxone has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal data have failed to revealed evidence of impaired fertility or fetotoxicity after dosages equivalent to 50 times the recommended daily human dose. There are no controlled studies during human pregnancy. Naloxone crosses the placenta. Administration during human pregnancy to a woman who is opioid-dependent may precipitate withdrawal in the woman and the fetus. Naloxone is only recommended for use during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and benefit outweighs risk.

Naloxone rapidly crosses the placenta. Fetal serum levels are lower than those of the mother.

There are no data on the excretion of naloxone into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering naloxone to nursing women.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to naloxone or any ingredient in the formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include seizure (convulsions), feeling light-headed, or fainting.

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What should I discuss with my health care provider before using naloxone?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to naloxone. Before using naloxone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have: a brain tumor or head injury; seizures; heart disease or a heart rhythm disorder; or a history of drug or alcohol addiction. If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use naloxone. FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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