Patients taking opioid medications (usually for pain relief after surgery or other invasive procedures) may also be advised to have Narcan on hand as well. Narcan is a medication that helps with preventing opioid overdoses, which can be lethal depending on the dose taken. Here is a deeper look at how Narcan works and some of the benefits.
Works
Narcan is essentially made up of the drug naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist. What this basically means is that the drug helps stop the effects of opioids, usually by competing for and blocking the same receptors in your cells that opioids bind to in order to function. It’s administered via a nasal spray, usually given by a family member or loved one. Once the spay travels to the lungs, it diffuses into the circulatory system so it can quickly travel through your body.
Dosage and Usage
Each container of Narcan contains a single dose, one full spray. When administering Narcan, follow the dosage instructions included, and if more than one dose is needed, use a new canister, alternating nostrils with each subsequent dose every 2-3 minutes. Always call 911 after an overdose, regardless of whether or not Narcan is available. While Narcan can help block the opioids from causing further symptoms, an overdose can trigger or exacerbate other existing health problems that require medical attention, like heart conditions or respiratory issues.
Narcan and Other Drugs
Narcan is safe to take with other drugs and will usually be used with a variety of respiratory medications when administered by EMTs to help control a person’s breathing and stabilize their system. In the case of drug abuse and intentional misuse of opioids, other drugs like Naltrexone might be prescribed after treatment the help curb cravings and wean them off of the offending opioids.
Narcan can help cut the effects of opioid overdoses in an emergency and can help save someone’s life. It’s fast-acting, easy to administer, and is available over the counter without the need for a prescription. Keep in mind that Narcan only works for opioid overdoses, though, so if someone has an alcohol overdose or some other non-opioid drug, Narcan won’t do anything to help since other drugs target different cell receptors.