Naloxone

What it is used for

Pentazocine and Naloxone Tablets are indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. Limitations of Use Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, misuse, overdose, and death, which can occur at any dosage or duration, and persist over the course of therapy, reserve opioid analgesics, including Pentazocine and Naloxone Tablets for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are ineffective, not tolerated, or would be otherwise inadequate to provide sufficient management of pain.

What it does

Emergency treatment of opioid overdose

How to take it

Step 1: CHECK if you suspect an overdose

• CHECK for a suspected overdose: the person will not wake up or is very sleepy or not breathing well
• yell “Wake up!”
• shake the person gently
• if the person is not awake, go to Step 2

Step 2: GIVE 1st dose in the nose

• HOLD the nasal spray device with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger
• INSERT the nozzle into either NOSTRIL
• PRESS the plunger firmly to give the 1st dose
• 1 nasal spray device contains 1 dose

Step 3: CALL 911

• CALL 911 immediately after giving the 1st dose

Step 4: WATCH & GIVE

• WAIT 2 to 3 minutes after the 1st dose to give the medicine time to work
• if the person wakes up: Go to Step 5
• if the person does not wake up:
• CONTINUE TO GIVE doses every 2 to 3 minutes until the person wakes up
• it is safe to keep giving doses

Step 5: STAY

• STAY until ambulance arrives: even if the person wakes up
• GIVE another dose if the person becomes very sleepy again
• You may need to give all the doses in the pack

While you are taking it

some people may experience symptoms when they wake up, such as shaking, sweating, nausea, or feeling angry. This is to be expected.

Active ingredient (in each spray)

Naloxone hydrochloride 4 mg

Use(s)

• to “revive” someone during an overdose from many prescription pain medications or street drugs such as heroin
• this medicine can save a life