Using naloxone

Naloxone is an effective medication that reverses opioid overdoses. It works on any opioid, including fentanyl. 

Naloxone can be administered intramuscularly (injection into the muscle) or intranasally (insertion into the nostril). To use naloxone, follow these steps:

1. Confirm the person is not responding and not breathing normally. The person will not react when you call to or shake them. They will be breathing very slowly, making gurgling or snoring sounds, or not breathing at all. You may notice that their lips or skin are pale, greyish, or blue. 
    
2. Call 911. 
    
3. Administer naloxone. 
   • If you are using nasal naloxone, hold the injector with the tip up in one hand, with your thumb on the plunger. Tilt the person’s head back, insert the applicator into the nostril, and press the plunger all the way.

   • If you are using muscular naloxone, take the cap off the medication vial and turn it upside down. Stick the needle through the rubber stopper, draw the medication into your syringe by pulling back on the plunger, and fill the syringe with liquid (not air). Inject the needle straight into the muscle in the outer middle part of the shoulder or the front of the thigh and push down on the plunger, making sure all the medication is given. It is OK to do this through clothing.

      

4. Stay with the person. If they are not breathing, do rescue breathing by tilting the head back, lifting the chin, and pinching the nose. Breath into their mouth every five seconds—you should see their chest rise with each breath. If they do not have a pulse and you know how, do CPR. 
    
5. If they have not woken up after two minutes, administer a second dose. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until they wake up or emergency medical services arrive. 

Naloxone cannot be self-administered. If you need naloxone, you will be unable to give it to yourself. Consider telling the people around you when you are using where your naloxone is, and how to use it.

• If they have never seen naloxone before, show them the box and the instructions that came with it.
• If you carry intramuscular naloxone and the people who may reverse your overdose are not familiar with syringes, show them how to use one. This will help them feel more comfortable if they need to draw up and administer the naloxone in an emergency.

• Tell the people you know and love that you carry naloxone and can respond if they overdose. Invite them to tell you when they are using drugs.

   

If you or someone you know is using alone, having naloxone nearby won’t help in case of overdose. One option is to call the Never Use Alone overdose prevention lifeline at 877-696-1996. They will stay on the phone with you and call 911 if you need it.