Naloxone; a Medication Used For the Complete or Partial Reversal of Opioid Overdose

Naloxone is a medicine used to block or reverse the effects of opioid drugs, particularly within the setting of drug overdoses which are rapidly becoming a leading cause of death worldwide. Naloxone belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid antagonists. It works by blocking the effects of the opioid in the brain. Naloxone helps block or reverse the effects of opioid drug, including extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, or loss of consciousness. Opioids are a class of drugs that include heroin, synthetic opioids, and pain relievers, such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and many others.

Naloxone is widely used in opioid overdose to counteract life-threatening depression of both the respiratory tract and central nervous system, allowing the victim to breathe normally. It is a nonscheduled (non-addictive), prescription medication. It is a short-acting opioid antagonist medicine that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. Whereas, naloxone injection is a class of medications called opiate antagonists. It helps block the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood.

Naloxone is mainly used to reverse opioid overdose such as heroine and morphine. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists naloxone under prescription drugs, however, some countries, such as Australia and Italy, have rescheduled it as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug. Naloxone is available in various strengths, such as 0.4mg/0.4ml, 1mg/ml, 0.4 mg/ml, and 4mg/0.1ml, among others. FDA approved naloxone in 1970, a very safe drug with a potential side effect of the theoretical risk of allergy that has never been documented.

Its administration may result in acute opioid withdrawal (nausea, agitation, diarrhea, vomiting, goose flesh, runny nose, tearing, and yawning). Moreover, naloxone (narcan) and pentazocine is a combination medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain. Naloxone is included in this medication to prevent the misuse of the narcotic ingredient. It blocks opioid receptor sites and reverses the harmful effects of the overdose.