FAQ

Narcan® is a brand name of the medication naloxone. Narcan® comes as a single step nasal spray. Evzio® is another brand of naloxone. Evzio® comes as a single step auto-injector.
There are generic options for naloxone, too. Generic nasal naloxone comes as a multi-step nasal spray kit that needs to be put together. Generic naloxone also comes in a vial that can be injected into a person’s thigh or shoulder. Generic naloxone is often less expensive than brand name naloxone.
Each type has pros and cons, but all are effective. This is a technical comparison of naloxone products.

Naloxone reverses opiate overdose. This is caused by heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and others. For a more complete list of opiate medications, click here. Naloxone will not help reverse any other type of overdose, such as alcohol, benzodiazepine, cocaine, or methamphetamine.

There are no independent studies that suggest one type of naloxone is clearly better than another. You should talk to your pharmacist or prescriber about which type is best for you. Things to consider might be: comfort with syringes, your hand strength, if you intend to store it or to carry it around with you, ability to assemble a kit, insurance coverage, if you need audio instructions at the time of use to help administer, price, and availability.

It depends. Many states have policies, called standing orders or collaborative practice agreements, which allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone to you without you having to first see a prescriber. But you might want to call your local pharmacy first to make sure they have naloxone in stock and know that you can get it without a separate prescription.

Anyone with a regular prescription can get naloxone at the pharmacy. Additionally, most states have now changed their laws so that anyone can get naloxone at a pharmacy without first getting a prescription from a doctor or other provider. The details vary by state and sometimes by pharmacy chain.

In most cases there are no age restrictions for naloxone. Naloxone is FDA-approved for people under 18.

Many pharmacists can provide you with naloxone without having to first see a doctor or other prescriber. However, naloxone is still kept behind the counter, like some cold medicines. You can say something like, “I’d like to get naloxone, please. Which type(s) do you carry here?” It might also be helpful to call the pharmacy ahead of time to make sure that they carry naloxone and are familiar with how to dispense it without you having a prescription.

No. You may be asked for a form of identification to confirm your identity if you’re paying for the naloxone with your insurance, but picking up naloxone should be just like picking up an antibiotic or other drug that requires a prescription but isn’t a controlled substance.

In most pharmacies or health care settings, you will not need to fill out any additional forms. If you’re getting naloxone at a pharmacy without first seeing a prescriber, you may need to fill out some paperwork in some cases. For example, you may need to sign a form confirming that you received education on how to use the medication.

When you get to the pharmacy ask the pharmacist, “I’d like to get naloxone, please. Which type(s) do you carry here?” The pharmacist will tell you about the naloxone products offered. You and the pharmacist can pick which is best for you. Like most prescriptions, you might need to wait a little while as the pharmacist processes your request. The pharmacist will likely provide you with information on :
– The importance of calling 911
– How to spot an opioid overdose or breathing emergency caused by opioids
– How to assemble naloxone (if applicable)
– How to give naloxone to someone who is overdosing
Most insurance plans cover naloxone (with usual copay, if any), or you may pay for naloxone with cash.
In some places you might need to sign a form to allow a doctor to see your medical records or to indicate that you have received education on how to use naloxone. This requirement is variable from state to state, and across pharmacies.
Make sure to ask the pharmacist any questions you have. If the naloxone is intended to protect you, make sure you are comfortable enough with the product that you can go home and teach those around you to know when and how to use naloxone. During an emergency you may not be able to give naloxone to yourself.

Naloxone is increasingly being covered by private insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare, Indian Health Services, the VA and others. You may be asked to pay your regular co-pay. You may have to pay the full price of your naloxone if your insurance does not cover it. Ask the pharmacist about the most affordable naloxone options and for any available manufacturer coupons.

Your pharmacy and insurance records are private and protected by federal and state laws. There are no recorded cases of denied or changed insurance coverage because the insured person received naloxone.

Your pharmacy and insurance records are private and protected by federal and state laws. There are no recorded cases of denied or changed life insurance coverage because the insured person received naloxone.

Even with employer-sponsored health and/or life insurance plans, your medical history is protected and private, even to your union/employer.

If you are concerned about your own opioid safety risk because of a pain reliever prescription, then you can simply say “I plan to use my medications as prescribed. However, I am aware that opioid pain relievers carry some risk. Can you please co-prescribe naloxone with my opioid pain reliever medicine?”
If you are concerned about someone else’s safety, you can say “I am concerned about someone’s overdose risk and I know that community-based naloxone is being promoted as an overdose prevention strategy. Can you please write me a prescription for naloxone so that I can be prepared?”

In addition to pharmacists and health care providers, many areas have community- based organizations that distribute naloxone. The organizations typically give naloxone out for free to people who use drugs, are at risk for overdose, and their immediate social network.

Yes, in most states, you may get naloxone at the pharmacy to help keep others safe. We encourage everyone to carry naloxone! You may not be able to use your health insurance to pay for the naloxone if you are not intending for it to be used on you. Only one state (RI) currently requires insurance companies to pay for naloxone obtained by the insured family member or friend for use on another person who may not be insured. This means that a parent obtaining naloxone for their adult child may not be able to charge their insurance for naloxone. This situation may change and can vary based on pharmacy or insurance company policy. Make sure to ask the pharmacist about the most affordable options and any available manufacturer coupons. You do not need to say anything different at the pharmacy. Asking, “I’d like to get naloxone please. Which type(s) do you carry here?” is fine. If the pharmacist asks if it is for you or for someone else, reply truthfully, and be prepared to pay for naloxone.

Talking to a loved one about overdose risk can be difficult because people might not perceive that they are at risk for an overdose. Also, someone with an opioid use disorder might not want to have frank conversations about substance use. However, framing overdose prevention as a matter of fact safety issue for any household that might contain licit or illicit opioids. For example, “Overdose is killing many people by accident. I got some naloxone and want to have a family meeting about how and when to use it, where we should store it, and how to prevent overdoses or bad reactions.”

Naloxone does not affect people who haven’t taken opioids. However allergic reactions can happen, though rare, and parts of the naloxone kits can be dangerous to children (glass vials, needles, or choking hazards). For this reason we recommend keeping naloxone out of reach of children.

Check out some FAQs from prescribers and pharmacists at our sister site, Prescribe to Prevent.

Prevent & Protect was created using federal funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and is a part of the Maximizing OpiOid safety with Naloxone (MOON) Study. Prevent & Protect does not use any industry funds. Contributors information and disclosures are here.