The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a naloxone-based drug that will be available over-the-counter from this summer.
The US government intends to strengthen its fight against the opioid epidemic after a group of scientists developed a vaccine against fentanyl, a drug 50 times more potent than heroin and which could see more than 110,000 overdoses in the country in 2022. was behind 60% of the deaths. ,
“Narcan 4 milligrams (mg) naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray” has been approved for over-the-counter sales, the first drug of its kind available over-the-counter. However, drug traffickers have already found another alternative with devastating effects. It is a zombie drug that combines fentanyl with xylazine.
Narcan temporarily blocks the effects of drugs
Narcan, this naloxone-based antidote, quickly and temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and allows the victim to regain consciousness. It’s easy to use and currently costs around $50. Other formulations and dosages of naloxone, designated agency, will remain available with a prescription only.
“The action paves the way for the life-saving drug to be sold directly to consumers in places like pharmacies, convenience stores, supermarkets and gas stations,” the FDA said in a statement.
Drug overdose remains a major public health problem in the United States, with more than 101,750 fatal overdoses reported in the 12-month period ending October 2022. They were mainly from synthetic drugs such as fentanyl.
“Today’s approval of over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray will help improve access to naloxone, increase the number of places where it is available, and help reduce opioid overdose deaths nationwide.” We encourage the manufacturer to make product access a priority by making it available “as quickly as possible and at an affordable cost,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf.
Tags: Fentanyl Harm Reduction Naloxone Opioid Epidemic Overdose
