Narcan.Photo: Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty
The Food and Drug Administrationgave its approval for Narcan— a prescription nasal spray that helps reverse the effects of opioid overdose — to be sold over the counter, the agency said.
While it’s commonly referred to as Narcan, a branded nasal spray,the medication itself is naloxone. The medication, which is sprayed into one nostril, is able to immediately restore normal breathing in someone who has overdosed on fentanyl, heroin and/or prescription painkillers within 30 to 90 minutes.
FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf said the approval will go a long way in addressing the “dire public health need” for the life saving medication as opioid overdoses continue to rise.
At the moment, people who have Medicaid or private insurance can buy a two-dose pack ofprescription Narcan with a co-pay of less than $10, according toTheNew York Times. However, it noted there was a price discrepancy for the sale of the medication for those without insurance, as one pharmacy in Manhattan charged $98 for the box while a different pharmacy chain in New Jersey charged $73.
Emergent BioSolutions, which makes Narcan, declined to give a price point to the publication, but said it would work with leaders of the government to “increase access and availability.”
“We are dedicated to improving public health and assisting those working hard to end the opioid crisis — so now with leaders across government, retail and advocacy groups, we must work together to continue increasing access and availability, as well as educate the public on the risks of opioid overdoses and the value of being prepared with Narcan to help save a life,” said Robert G. Kramer, the chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions, told theTimes.
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This comes as opioid overdoses have hit a record high number with more than 101,000 fatal overdoses reported between Oct., 2021 and Oct. 2022, according to the FDA’s press release. The agency said these numbers have been “primarily driven” due to the circulation of fentanyl.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, overdose deaths due to opioidshave nearly doubled since 2017. There were over 47,000 overdose deaths in 2017 and over 80,000 six years later in 2021.
source: people.com
