Naloxone
What You Need to Know about Naloxone
As of August 28, 2017, anyone can get naloxone at a Missouri pharmacy without a prescription. Naloxone is a life-saving medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse the toxic effects of an overdose by opioids.* Naloxone should be administered when a patient is showing signs of opioid overdose.
*Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine and morphine. Naloxone is available as a generic drug or under the brand name NARCAN®.
The primary goal of the Missouri Overdose Rescue and Education (MORE) project is to reduce opioid-involved deaths in Missouri through training, education, and distribution of naloxone to first responders in rural regions of the state.
Getting Naloxone from a Pharmacy
- Call ahead to the pharmacy to ensure it's in stock - requests for naloxone can be made if the pharmacy does not have it currently in stock.
- Ask to speak with the pharmacist. Naloxone is a prescription drug, so it won't be available on the retail shelf with "over-the-counter" medications like aspirin.
- Mention the Statewide Standing Order (PDF), issued by Dr. Randall Williams, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The Statewide Standing Order allows pharmacists to dispense naloxone to anyone without a paper or electronic prescription.
- Talk to the pharmacist about how to recognize an opioid overdose, administer naloxone, and which product is right for you. The Statewide Standing Order covers generic naloxone and NARCAN® Nasal Spray. Insurance plans may not cover every naloxone product, so ask the pharmacist or call your insurance company’s customer service number for more information.