Naloxone hydrochloride is a drug that acts against the effects of endorphins and narcotics. Endorphins are chemicals made by the body that cause a pleasant feeling. Narcotics are substances/drugs that relieve pain and cause feelings of pleasure. Because naloxone hydrochloride works against endorphins and narcotics, it is known as a narcotics antagonist. An antagonist is something that goes against or opposes something else.

Naloxone hydrochloride is very effective and is prescribed to reverse acute (sudden) narcotic intoxication or narcotic depression. Narcotic intoxication is when someone has taken too much narcotics to the point that it is harmful. Narcotic depression refers to the slowing down of the central nervous system (brain and spine) due the effects of narcotics.

Naloxone hydrochloride does not have any helpful effect if it is administered without narcotics in the blood. When it is given to a narcotics-dependent person, it does have some side effects associated with narcotics withdrawal (being without narcotics after being addicted to it), such as nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Some people cannot take this drug because they are too sensitive to it. The full chemical name for naloxone hydrochloride is 1-N-Allyl-7, 8-dihydro-14-hydroxymorphinone hydrochloride. By looking at the parts of this chemical name that are in italics, you can see how the name "naloxone" was created.

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