Naloxone Hydrochloride (Narcan)

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.

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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. Naloxone hydrochloride is sometimes referred to as naloxone but it is

marketed under various trade names such as Narcan, Narcanti, and Nalone. It has

sometimes mistakenly been referred to as naltrexate.