Narcan, a medicine that can cure an opioid overdose in a few minutes, will be available over-the-counter at pharmacies soon.
Narcan, which was granted approval by the FDA for over-the-counter purchase in March, is currently shipped to mass drug, pharmacy, as well as grocery stores like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, along with Rite Aid, as well as online retailers, and anticipates hitting shelves in September, according to its manufacturer, Emergent BioSolutions.
Narcan Available Online With Nationwide Distribution
Walgreens reported that Narcan would be available online as early as September 5, with nationwide distribution beginning on September 7.
The suggested retail price for two pills from Emergent BioSolutions is $44.99.
Narcan, additionally referred to as naloxone in its generic version, is the first opioid overdose reversal treatment to be sold without a prescription, increasing access to a drug that has been demonstrated to cut opioid deaths countrywide. Overdose killed more than 80,000 Americans in 2021, up from 68,630 in 2020.
In the past, naloxone had been accessible without a prescription at pharmacies to anyone who asked for it, but not every drugstore had it. As Dylan Scott of Vox wrote, this required consumers to ask the pharmacist for the drug directly.
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Naloxone Acts Blocking The Effect Of Opioid
Naloxone acts by inhibiting the impact of opioids on brain receptors, including heroin, fentanyl, as well as prescription opioid medicines.
During an overdose, opioids can dangerously suppress a person’s respiration, but the medicine restores normal breathing within two to three minutes of administration.
availability to naloxone has increased almost 785 percent through earlier initiatives between 2016 and 2021, however research suggests that naloxone availability must be substantially more frequent to satisfy the current need.
The inclusion of naloxone in major drug stores helps ensure that the general public is aware of and has access to it. In 2021, about half of all overdose deaths occurred when another person was nearby. Many deaths can be avoided if bystanders have naloxone.
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