An opioid overdose antidote will be available over the counter as soon as next week in a move that is expected to save lives across the country.
Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is a nasal spray used to quickly reverse the effects of an overdose from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers. The medicine is approved for use in all ages, including children who may accidentally ingest harmful drugs. It has no effect if given to someone not experiencing an opioid overdose.
On Wednesday, Narcan manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions said it has officially shipped over the counter, prescription strength doses to leading mass, pharmacy and grocery stores, as well as online retailers, and they will be available for sale without the need of a prescription beginning in September.
"Over-the-counter access to NARCAN Nasal Spray offers more people the ability to respond in an opioid emergency, helping to save lives and keep loved ones and communities safe," the pharmaceutical company said in a statement. "Expanding access and awareness is critical given the staggering toll of the epidemic mainly driven by synthetic opioids, like fentanyl."
The over-the-counter Narcan will retail for $44.99 and contain two doses. It will be sold at retailers including Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart and CVS.
"Picking up NARCAN Nasal Spray at the store is not a sign that your family has 'a problem,' in fact it shows you are prepared just in case," said Dr. Bonnie Milas, a Penn Medicine physician who lost both her sons to accidental overdoses. "It's like buying a fire extinguisher to have at home – having the power to save a life of someone you love, someone you know, or someone that may need another chance."
Emergent says Having Narcan in a first-aid kit, or carrying it on the go in case of an opioid emergency, can make a difference and help reverse the effects of opioids while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive, which could take 10 minutes or longer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan for over the counter use in March.
There has been a sharp spike in opioid deaths in recent years, fueled in part by fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is intended for post-surgical use but is now found in a variety of street drugs. Provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics released last year indicated there was a 15% increase in overdose deaths in 2021 compared to 2020 and a 30% increase from 2019 to 2020.
Last year, one life was lost due to an opioid overdose approximately every seven minutes, and today it is the leading cause of accidental death in the US.