What is narcan used for?
It's effects are said to be almost instant, but the medication does not always work first time
NARCAN is an emergency medication with the power to save a life.
It's effects are said to be almost instant, but it does not always work the first time. Here's what you need to know...
What is Narcan aka naloxone?
Narcan is the branded medication of Naxolone.
Naxolone is the emergency antidote given to those who have overdosed on opioids including heroin.
During an overdose, a person's breathing can slow down or stop, making it hard for them to wake up from this state.
Naxolone works against this effect, knocking the opioids from the opiate receptors in their brain.
Which celebrities have had Narcan administered?
In July of 2018, suffered an overdose of heroin and fentanyl.
The former Disney star was found unresponsive in bed by their assistant, their body turning blue. After the assistant called 911, Demi was taken to the hospital where they were treated with Narcan.
The night of their overdose, Demi also suffered three strokes and a heart attack.
Doctors in the hospital later told Demi they had five to ten minutes to live by the time they arrived in their care.
In December of 2019, the Chicago Tribune reported that the late rapper Juice Wrld was treated with Narcan following his collapse at Midway Airport after an apparent drug overdose.
The 21-year-old tragically passed away later that night.
Various other celebrities have overdosed over the years, but it is not well known if they were treated with Narcan or not.
Eminem almost fatally overdosed in 2007 with the drug methadone. He reportedly woke up in the hospital with his organs shutting down.
Singer and mother two, , dealt with a drug addiction as a teenager. When she was 15, she suffered an overdose. She has maintained her sobriety from drugs ever since.
How is it used for opioid overdose?
Narcan can be given by injecting the muscle of the arm, thigh or buttocks.
It can also be administered with a nasal spray, but this is less common.
The medication usually works within five minutes, but repeated doses may be needed if they are still showing signs of an overdose.
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It starts to wear off after 30 minutes, and has been reported to completely wear off after 90 minutes.
After a dose, the person should be able to breathe more normally, and it may become easier to wake them.
If a person who has not taken opioids ingests Narcan, it will not have any effect on them.