FDA Approves , Over-the-Counter , Overdose Medication.
On March 29, the United States Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) approved overdose
reversal drug Narcan for over-the-counter use.
ABC reports that the decision marks
a milestone that advocates say will
save lives amid the ongoing opioid crisis.
Narcan is made by
Emergent BioSolutions.
The drug is a nasal spray containing naloxone, which can restore breathing if someone is experiencing an opioid overdose. .
According to medical experts, it is safe to administer
the drug to anyone who appears to be having an overdose,
even if it turns out they are not overdosing.
With the FDA's approval, the medication can now
be sold in places like drug stores, grocery stores,
convenience stores and even online.
With the FDA's approval, the medication can now
be sold in places like drug stores, grocery stores,
convenience stores and even online.
Today's approval of OTC naloxone nasal
spray will help improve access to naloxone,
increase the number of locations where
it's available and help reduce opioid
overdose deaths throughout the country, Dr. Robert M. Califf, FDA Commissioner, via ABC.
We encourage the manufacturer to make
accessibility to the product a priority by
making it available as soon as possible
and at an affordable price, Dr. Robert M. Califf, FDA Commissioner, via ABC.
According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, an estimated 107,622 drug
overdose deaths occurred in 2021, setting a record high.
ABC reports that a majority of those
deaths were the result of opioids, particularly
synthetic forms of opioids like fentanyl.