by Shane Darke, The Conversation Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Opioids are some of the most widely used and misused drugs in the world. Opioids are central nervous system depressants, meaning they slow down brain activity and relax the muscles. They include the natural products of the opium poppy as well as synthetic (human-made) compounds derived from it. Commonly used opioids...
Tag: <span>naloxone</span>
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Higher-dose naloxone spray didn’t save more lives, researchers find
by Mike Stobbe This image provided by Hikma Pharmaceuticals shows the company’s nasal spray drug Kloxxado, containing 8 milligrams of naloxone. A study published Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 finds that a new, higher-dose nasal spray for reversing opioid overdoses didn’t save more lives than the standard dose. However, it was tied to more vomiting and...
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‘Fake Xanax’ Tied to Seizures, Coma; Naloxone Ineffective
Bromazolam, a street drug that has been detected with increasing frequency in the United States, has reportedly caused protracted seizures, myocardial injury, comas, and multiday intensive care stays in three individuals, new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed. The substance is one of at least a dozen designer benzodiazepines,...
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Out-of-pocket cost of naloxone may keep many uninsured from using life-saving treatment
by RAND Corporation Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The cost of buying the opioid antidote naloxone is out of reach for many uninsured Americans, a hurdle that may keep the treatment from saving more people who overdose on opioids, according to a new RAND Corporation study. While laws making it easier to prescribe and obtain naloxone...
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Pharmacists could be frontline fighters in battle against opioid epidemic
by Victoria Tutag Lehr, The Conversation When you stop at your local pharmacy to pick up a toothbrush or an antacid, soon you may also be able to buy an over-the-counter drug to reverse an opioid overdose. The lifesaving drug, naloxone, currently requires a prescription, but it may become available as an over-the-counter purchase in...
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Life insurers reject naloxone carriers
Public health officials — including some state and local governments — want a lot of people to be carrying naloxone so that they can easily help save a life if they see someone who has overdosed on opioids. But people who carry it are now finding that they can’t get life insurance because the insurance...