Narcan/Naloxone
Should you Have your own Naloxone Kit on hand for Opioid Overdose?
I decided that this Blog entry would be more practical and less personal. I have come to this conclusion after going to my second addictions conference this year. At each, they either offered free Narcan or access to order free Narcan. I have to admit that at first, I didn’t think that I really needed to have any Narcan. I live alone, I am semi-retired, and to my knowledge, no one in my circle of friends or family is an opioid user, prescription or otherwise.
Please note that this blog post is meant to encourage you to seek even more information on this topic. Research is an ongoing process, and I hope to remain current with the latest material regarding Naloxone. Resources will be placed at the bottom of the article.
But then I learned more about Fentanyl, its prevalence, and the dramatic increase in death due to fentanyl overdose, and I decided that not only did I want to have and keep some Narcan, but I wanted to make sure as many people as possible could also get their own Narcan/Naloxone Kit.
Now for the facts. Opioids are a class of drugs that are commonly associated with reducing pain. Codeine, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Morphine, Heroine, and Fentanyl are all Opioids.
Narcan is the brand name for the generic drug Naloxone. There are other brand names for naloxone, but many people continue to call all of these products “Narcan.”
How it works
Naloxone is an antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose.
Signs of an OD
Naloxone should be administered whenever you think that an individual is potentially suffering from an overdose. Naloxone will not harm anyone who does not have opioids in their system. Common symptoms of an overdose
stupor
changes in pupillary size
cold and clammy skin
cyanosis - blue discoloration of the skin
respiratory failure leading to death
coma
How to use/administer Narcan
There are two FDA-approved formulations of naloxone: injectable and prepackaged nasal spray.
The Naloxone nasal spray kit comes with a prefilled and prepackaged device. It is only for use in the nose. If the medicine comes into contact with the eyes or skin, wash it off right away with water.
Then, perform the following steps;
· Make sure the patient is on their back; use your hand to support their neck and tilt their head back.
· Take the nasal spray out of its’ box. Rest your thumb on the bottom plunger and your index and middle fingers, each on one side of the nozzle.
· Place the tip of the nozzle into the patient’s nostril. It should be deep enough that your index and middle fingers touch the bottom of their nose.
· Press firmly down firmly on the plunger and administer the spray into their nostril.
· If the patient does not respond to the medication within 2 – 3 minutes, administer another dose.
· The effects of Naloxone are temporary and may wear off in 30 to 90 minutes.
· It is possible for a person to still experience the effects of an overdose after naloxone wears off or need multiple doses if a potent opioid is in a person’s system.
· Call for emergency help or transport the patient to a hospital or ER,.
The Naloxone injectable kit comes with a needle and a vial of medicine. It is typically injected directly into the muscle. Proceed with the following steps;
· Remove the syringe from its plastic container.
· Remove the orange cap from the vial of naloxone.
· You would then pull the plunger up so that the plunger is filled with air.
· Then, put the needle into the vial of naloxone.
· Push the plunger so that the air is released into the vial.
· Then, pull back on the plunger to suck up the naloxone into the syringe.
· Once your syringe is prepared, pick a fatty or meaty area of the arm or thigh. Then, you would plunge the needle into their skin.
· Press on the plunger and give the entire dose to the patient.
· Call for emergency help or transport the patient to a hospital or ER. The effects of the Naloxone are temporary and may wear off, and the patient may experience the effects of the overdose again.
How to use the Zimhi Naloxone HCI Injection
· Press the needle into the outer thigh after twisting off the needle cap. Do not touch the plunger until this step is completed.
· Push the plunger until it clicks and hold for 2 seconds before removing the needle. If the plunger is pushed all the way down and blocks part of the solution window, the correct dose has been given. It is normal for most of the medicine to remain in the syringe after the dose has been injected.
· Pull the safety guard down using one hand with fingers behind the needle. Do this right after you give the injection.
· Place the used syringe into the blue case, close it, and call 911. Then, give the used ZIMHI syringe to the healthcare provider for inspection and proper disposal.
How to get Naloxone.
Naloxone is now available in all 50 states through CVS. Your doctor may also write a prescription for it, and some insurance carriers are covering part of the cost. Many community agencies are now offering Naloxone kits free or at little to no cost. The Narcan and “Next Distro” (websites listed below) are also valuable resources, providing information on where to get Naloxone free or at a small cost.
Most important points
· Naloxone works to reverse opioid overdose in the body for only 30 to 90 minutes. Some opioids remain in the body longer than this. Therefore, it is possible for a person to still experience the effects of an overdose after a dose of naloxone wears off.
· Naloxone should be stored at room temperature (neither too hot nor too cold) and should be kept out of sunlight, but not in the refrigerator. Naloxone can be kept in your car overnight, but not as permanent storage.
· The “shelf life” is 2-3 years. As with all medications, check their expiration dates frequently.
· Naloxone should be given to any person who shows signs of an opioid overdose or when an overdose is suspected.
· Naloxone will not hurt anyone if the emergency is not an opioid overdose
· Lastly, and most importantly, who should have a Naloxone Kit?
-parents (especially of teens), teachers, coaches, community leaders, and anyone who has a family member who uses opioids with or without a prescription.
Resources
https://ophelia.com/blog/how-to-administer-naloxone
https://www.dea.gov/onepill/save-lives#:~:text=Naloxone%20is%20a%20medicine%20that,because%20of%20an%20opioid%20overdose.
https://nextdistro.org/naloxone#state-finder
https://cva.com/contnet/prescription-drug-abuse/save-a-life
Make sure to check out the blog entry on Fentanyl if you haven’t already. Please share this with anyone you feel it can help.
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