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For the first time , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has approved a Narcan product — a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose — thatcan be purchase over - the - rejoinder .

The medication , Narcan , is a nasal sprayer that was O.K. as a prescription drug back in 2015 , according to the FDA . To change the drug ’s status , the maker provided data point demonstrating that Narcan is safe and efficient when used as directed and can be safely used by consumers without superintendence . Based on this information , an advisory committee unanimously recommend that the drug be cleared for over - the - parry economic consumption , and the FDA has now acted on this recommendation .

box containing narcan nasal spray pictured in a vending machine

A naloxone nasal spray is now available over-the-counter in the U.S.

All 50 states have " Narcan entree laws " on the books that already allow pharmacists to hold a stand up prescription drug for the drug and thus deal Narcan or a generic equivalent to anyone who requests it — but many pharmacies opt not to do so , fit in toThe New York Times . Many biotic community - ground organisation and local wellness department do offer the drug at slight to no price , according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC ) .

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The commendation of over - the - tabulator Narcan is expected to greatly improve access to the liveliness - saving drug , which can revive a person experiencing an opioid overdose within two to three minutes .

a person holds a GLP-1 injector

" Today ’s approval of OTC naloxone nasal spray will help better access to naloxone , increase the identification number of locations where it ’s available and serve reduce opioid overdose deaths throughout the country,“Dr . Robert M. Califf , the FDA Commissioner , say in the agency ’s statement . " We further the manufacturing business to make accessibility to the product a priority by making it available as soon as potential and at an affordable price . "

The CDC offer simple instructional videos onhow to practice naloxone nasal spraying , as well ashow to use injectable Narcan , another version of the medicament .

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