Naloxone — uses, dosing, side effects & the brands that sell it · pharmaranks
Naloxone: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist sold in the U.S. under 7 brand and generic names, for opioid-related disorders, respiration disorders and septic shock. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
By the pharmaranks editorial team·Reviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sources·How we research
Key facts
Drug class
Opioid Antagonist
Treats
Opioid-Related Disorders, Respiration Disorders and Septic Shock
7 products — Naloxone, Evzio and Evzio (Autoinjector), and others
Prescription?
Both Rx and OTC forms
Generic available?
Yes
Typical price
about $4 for a 30-count supply
How naloxone is dosed
From the FDA label for Naloxone (application ANDA070299). Other naloxone products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP may be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously. The most rapid onset of action is achieved by intravenous administration, which is recommended in emergency situations. Since the duration of action of some opioids may exceed that of naloxone, the patient should be kept under continued surveillance. Repeated doses of naloxone should be administered, as necessary. Intravenous Infusion Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP may be diluted for intravenous infusion in normal saline or 5% dextrose solutions. The addition of 2 mg of naloxone hydrochloride in 500 mL of either solution provides a concentration of 0.004 mg/mL. Mixtures should be used within 24 hours. After 24 hours, the remaining unused mixture must be discarded. The rate of administration should be titrated in accordance with the patient’s response. Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP should not be mixed with preparations containing bisulfite, metabisulfite, long-chain or high molecular weight anions, or any solution having an alkaline pH. No drug or chemical agent should be added to Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP unless its effect on the chemical and physical stability of the solution has first been established. General Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever…
Naloxone side effects
Postoperative The following adverse events have been associated with the use of naloxone hydrochloride injection in postoperative patients: hypotension, hypertension, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest. Death, coma, and encephalopathy have been reported as sequelae of these events. Excessive doses of naloxone in postoperative patients may result in significant reversal of analgesia and may cause agitation (see PRECAUTIONS and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION; Usage in Adults - Postoperative Opioid Depression). Opioid Depression Abrupt reversal of opioid depression may result in nausea, vomiting, sweating, tachycardia, increased blood pressure, tremulousness, seizures, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest which may result in death (see PRECAUTIONS). Opioid Dependence Abrupt reversal of opioid effects in persons who are physically dependent on opioids may precipitate an acute withdrawal syndrome which may include, but is not limited to, the following signs and symptoms: body aches, fever, sweating, runny nose, sneezing, piloerection, yawning, weakness, shivering or trembling, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, increased blood pressure, tachycardia. In the neonate, opioid withdrawal may also include: convulsions; excessive crying;…
Every naloxone product we track (7)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP, an opioid antagonist, is a synthetic congener of oxymorphone. In structure it differs from oxymorphone in that the methyl group on the nitrogen atom is replaced by an allyl group. Naloxone hydrochloride occurs as a white to slightly off-white powder, and is soluble in water, in dilute acids, and in strong alkali; slightly soluble in alcohol; practically insoluble in ether and in chloroform. Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP is available as a sterile solution for intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous administration in the concentration 0.4 mg of naloxone hydrochloride per mL. pH is adjusted to 3.0 to 6.5 with hydrochloric acid. The 0.4 mg/mL vial contains 8.6 mg/mL of sodium chloride and 2 mg/mL of methylparaben and propylparaben as preservatives in a ratio of 9:1. structure
What kind of drug is naloxone?
The FDA classifies naloxone as an opioid antagonist. Opioid antagonists attach to the same brain and body receptors that opioids use, but without switching them on. By occupying those receptors, they block opioids from binding and can rapidly reverse an overdose or curb opioid cravings. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take naloxone with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run naloxone against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is naloxone sold under?
We track 7 naloxone-containing products in the U.S.: Naloxone, Evzio, Evzio (Autoinjector), Naloxone Hydrochloride, Narcan, Rezenopy and Zimhi. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does naloxone come in?
Across the brands we track, naloxone is currently marketed as injectable, solution, spray/inhaler and spray/inhaler, metered, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Who shouldn’t take naloxone
Naloxone hydrochloride injection is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to naloxone hydrochloride or to any of the other ingredients in naloxone hydrochloride injection.
Yes. Our catalog lists 2 generic naloxone products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.