Last year, according to statistics, more than 135,000 people in the United States died from an opioid overdose. This FDA panel believes that making the brand available over-the-counter could help reduce that number.
The overdose reversal drug naloxone, known by its trade name Narcan, should be available as an over-the-counter drug, an FDA advisory panel has concluded.
Dr Dadilia Garcés says:
The FDA makes this decision, given the number of overdose cases that are filed. Currently, people need a prescription to acquire this drug, which is Narcan, and therefore limits their access. On the other hand, many people don’t want to apply because of the stigma.
All 19 experts voted in favor of making Narcan available over the counter.
Health experts believe the suggestion would help tackle the opioid epidemic.
“It would be more accessible and a lot of people at the time of having an overdose could be treated in the first minutes, which is the most important,” explains Garcés.
Due to its mechanism of action, Narcan can save the life of people suffering from cardiorespiratory arrest following an overdose of opioids such as fentanyl, oxycodone or morphine.
“The function that this drug performs is to compete with the drug that it produces at the time of the overdose and to place itself in places in the place of the drug. This allows the drug not to cause effects, in particular at the level of the central nervous system and the respiratory system”, specifies Garcés.
Experts insist that even if the drug that caused the overdose is not known, there should be no fear in administering Narcan.
“The important thing is to follow the instructions to the letter. Above all, call 911 immediately, administer the dose as directed and this will allow, if applied, and the patient continues to have a reaction, it is already ruled out that it is an opioid overdose and then the health staff to figure out what the other drug is and treat it,” says Garcés.
It is expected to be March 29 when the FDA convenes a panel to consider this suggestion from these advisers.