naloxone

noun

nal·​ox·​one na-ˈläk-ˌsōn 

: a synthetic potent antagonist of narcotic drugs (such as morphine and fentanyl) that is administered especially in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₉H₂₁NO₄·HCl

Note: Naloxone is administered by injection or as a nasal spray to reverse the effects of opioids especially in the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. It is also administered in combination with buprenorphine in the form of a dissolvable tablet placed under the tongue or a film placed inside the cheek to treat opioid dependence.

Examples of naloxone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The festival takes place each September — National Recovery Month — and highlights recovery through testimonials and tutorials for naloxone, a drug commonly known as Narcan that’s used to reverse opioid overdoses. —Jeff Gage, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024

Instead of calling for medical help, investigators say 26-year-old Michael Ray Reed searched YouTube for information on how to make a child throw up and tried to get naloxone, a medication that can be used to reverse opioid overdoses, delivered via DoorDash. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024

Many advocates also argue focusing on the supply of fentanyl ignores the problem of demand within the U.S. and urge for more money to go toward addiction treatment and harm reduction efforts like distributing naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2024

Academics, inmates and their advocates suggest scanning jail workers for drugs, providing a ready supply of the opioid-blocking naloxone nasal spray, ensuring inmates go through intake in a more private area, performing more frequent checks of inmates, and instituting local oversight boards. —Calmatters, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024

State and federal legislators have introduced legislation to require schools carry naloxone, and the Biden administration encouraged schools at the end of last year to keep the medication on-hand and teach staff how to use it. —CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024

Narcan, the nasal spray version of naloxone, has received F.D.A. approval to be sold over the counter and should be widely available by late summer. —Mike Baker, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024

The standards also recommend the use of gloves, a respirator, a fume hood, and the availability of naloxone. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2024

Over 2,000 doses of naloxone have been distributed across these events; last September, one was used to resuscitate someone at a concert (not Illenium’s) in Kansas City, Mo. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

N-allyl + hydroxy- + -one

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

naloxone

noun

nal·​ox·​one nal-ˈäk-ˌsōn  ˈnal-ək-ˌsōn 

: a potent synthetic antagonist of narcotic drugs (as morphine and fentanyl) that is administered especially in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₉H₂₁NO₄·HCl

Note: Naloxone is administered by injection or as a nasal spray to reverse the effects of opioids and especially in the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. It is also administered in combination with buprenorphine in the form of a dissolvable tablet placed under the tongue or a film placed inside the cheek to treat opioid dependence. Trademarks for preparations containing naloxone include Bunavail, Evzio, Narcan, Suboxone, and Zubsolv.