What is the shelf life/does this expire? 

• There is an expiration date on the box, usually 3-4 years out. However, research has shown that it works over 20 years after this expiration date, so we recommend that you do not throw away your Narcan until you receive a new supply. It is much better to use it expired than to not use it at all. 

What if I don't know anyone that does drugs?

• You may not, or you may not know that you do, but there is a wide variety of situations that Narcan is useful in. For example, you could see someone in public that you don’t know experience an overdose and be the one to save them. Your elderly parent or grandparent could forget that they have already taken their pain meds and take more, leaving them exposed to the possibility of opioid overdose. Your dog could get into your meds, and you could use Narcan on your dog. There’s no reason not to have it in case. 

What’s the difference between Narcan and Kloxxado or other brands? 

• In terms of use and effectiveness, not a lot. Kloxxado is 8 mg per nasal spray and Narcan is 4 mg, but research has shown that there isn’t a difference in effectiveness between doses. In fact, Kloxxado can make people experience worse withdrawal symptoms when they wake up. However, both will save a person’s life, so you use whatever you have.  

What are the storage requirement/what if I keep it in my car and it gets too hot? 

• Studies have shown that naloxone can stay in over 100-degree weather for 4 months straight before it has any effect on the medication. Even for people who keep it in their car, it gets cooler out at night or if you turn on the AC, so it shouldn’t be a problem. If at the end of a hot summer you want to replace yours, reach out and we’d be happy to give you more. 
• Additionally, it can freeze and thaw over and over and as long as you’ve thawed it enough to spray out, it will work.
• We regularly recommend that people keep it in their car if that is where they think they would be most likely to come across someone in need, so we don't foresee this being an issue. 

Do you have to prime it like Flonase?  

• Absolutely do not prime it. There is only one dose in each applicator, so if you prime it, you lose the dose. 

Doesn’t it make people violent/unsafe to be around while they are being pulled out of overdose? 

• We know that stories have circulated about people being brought back with Narcan and becoming aggressive immediately. This is not a side effect or direct impact of Narcan; more likely, they are coming to, unaware of how they got there, and a million people are standing over them. They may be confused, embarrassed, overstimulated, and/or feeling sick from withdrawal symptoms setting in. If you give someone a little bit of space once they wake up, this will likely not be a problem.  

How many doses do you give? 

• We have heard of people taking up to 8 doses to wake up, but that is very rare. If you have more Narcan, you can keep giving doses as long as you want. However, if you have given 2 or 3 and it hasn’t worked, it is most likely that the issue is something else. Since you will have called 911 before administering the naloxone, an ambulance should arrive shortly to take over and you can let them know that you gave the person x amount of doses already.  

What if it’s not an overdose and it's a stroke or something? 

• If it is not an opioid overdose, this will not hurt them at all! This is why we say when in doubt, use it. 

Does this work on fentanyl? 

• Yes; it works on all opioids.