Narcan

List of products in the National Drug Code with proprietary name narcan. This medication is used for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose. Serious opioid overdose symptoms may include unusual sleepiness, unusual difficulty waking up, or breathing problems (ranging from slow/shallow breathing to no breathing). Other symptoms of overdose may include very small "pinpoint" pupils, slow heartbeat, or low blood pressure. If someone has serious overdose symptoms but you are not sure if he or she has overdosed, give this medication right away anyway, since lasting slow/shallow breathing may cause permanent damage to the brain, or death. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid antagonists. It works by blocking the effects of the opioid in the brain. This medication may not work as well to block the effects of certain types of opioids (mixed agonist/antagonists such as buprenorphine, pentazocine). With these types of opioids, blocking may be incomplete or you may need a higher dose of naloxone. The effects of naloxone will not last as long as the effects of the opioid. Since treatment with this medication is not long lasting, be sure to get medical help right away after giving the first dose of naloxone. Treatment of opioid overdose should also include breathing treatment (such as oxygen given through tubes in the nose, mechanical ventilation, artificial respiration).