FDA approves Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses opioid overdose
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the sale of Narcan, the most widely recognized version of naloxone, without a prescription. This move paves the way for Narcan to become the first opioid treatment drug to be sold over the counter, which advocates believe is a crucial step in controlling the nationwide overdose crisis. Narcan, a nasal spray manufactured by Emergent BioSolutions, can reverse opioid overdoses, including street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl, as well as prescription versions such as oxycodone. A Lifesaver The majority of the 100,000 annual overdose deaths in the U.S. are related to opioids, primarily synthetic versions such as fentanyl that can take multiple doses of naloxone to reverse. Advocates believe that making naloxone available to those who are most likely to be around overdoses, including people who use drugs and their relatives, is a crucial strategy to address the overdose crisis. Chuck Ingoglia of the National Council for Mental...