what is narcan?

benefits

  • Narcan does not require a prescription or a health professional to purchase or deliver.
  • Narcan is available for sale over the counter at pharmacies around the country.
  • Narcan has limited side effects (one side effect is immediate symptoms of withdrawal due to how powerfully Narcan knocks opiates off receptors.)
  • If Narcan is administered and the person is not actually overdosing/it is not an opioid overdose, no negative side effects will occur. That person would likely feel nothing.
  • Narcan works immediately (within one to two minutes).

how does it work?

Narcan outbinds opioid drugs to receptors. In reaching the opioid receptors in the brain more rapidly and binding more powerfully, Narcan prevents opioid drugs from bonding. This effectively and rapidly stops overdoses. Keep in mind that Narcan only works with opioids.

examples of opioid drugs:

  • fentanyl
  • oxycontin/oxycodone
  • morphine
  • vicodin
  • heroin
  • opium
  • percocet

does narcan work for fentanyl?

Fentanyl has become a massive, life-taking issue recently, and while Narcan does work for fentanyl because it’s an opioid, multiple doses of Narcan may be needed, and it needs to be administered quickly.

cons

The true con of Narcan is the price. $45 for a 2-count is a lot of money, especially when Narcan cannot be reused and multiple doses may be needed for one person. As a drug, Narcan/nalaxone has very limited cons. The opioid withdrawal symptoms that can be caused by adminstering Narcan are one con. In addition, Narcan may give some the false belief that they can do as many drugs as they want, and Narcan will always be there to bring them back to life, which is not healthy or safe.