How to Give Naloxone (Narcan®) Nasal Spray

Narcan® Nasal Spray can help people who have overdosed on opioid drugs. Opioid drugs include prescription pain medicines like oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and methadone, and illegal drugs like heroin. 

Learn about the signs of an opioid overdose and review these instructions or the directions that come with the Narcan® Nasal Spray before you need to use it. That way you will be ready to give the medicine if someone needs it. Giving someone who has overdosed Narcan® Nasal Spray quickly and getting them medical care right away could save their life.

Place device in nose. Insert plunger and press all the way in.

Care Instructions

If you think someone has overdosed on opioids:

Step 1. Call 911 or have someone else call right away.

Step 2. Check the person:

  • Call the person's name, if you know it, and ask: "Are you OK?"
  • Try to wake the person up by gently shaking them.
  • Look for signs of opioid overdose such as extreme sleepiness or not responding; small pupils; slowed or stopped breathing; blue fingernails and/or lips; or snoring, gasping, or gurgling sounds.

Step 3. If the person doesn't wake up fully or has signs of an opioid overdose, give the Narcan® Nasal Spray:

Lay the person on their back.

  • Remove one of the nasal sprays from the package. Each package of Narcan® Nasal Spray comes with two nasal sprays.
  • Hold the nasal spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and your first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle. Do not press the plunger until you are ready to give the medicine.
  • Tilt the person's head back and support their neck with your hands. Place the nozzle into the person's nostril and press the plunger firmly to give the dose of Narcan®. 

Remove the nozzle from the person's nostril after giving the dose.

Step 4. Continue care until the ambulance arrives:

  • Move the person onto their side.
  • If the person does not wake up, start to respond, or start breathing normally within 2–3 minutes, give another dose of Narcan® Nasal Spray into the other nostril. 
  • If the person doesn't start breathing or has no pulse, start rescue breathing and/or chest compressions if you know how.

Reminders

  • Narcan® Nasal Spray wears off quickly. Someone who gets Narcan® Nasal Spray always needs medical care to make sure the symptoms of opioid overdose don't return. 
  • Even if you are not completely sure that someone has overdosed on opioids, it is safe to give Narcan® Nasal Spray. The medicine will not hurt them, and it's better to give it to see if it helps.
  • Even if someone isn't breathing, Narcan® Nasal Spray can still work. So, if a person might have overdosed on opioids, give them the Narcan® Nasal Spray even if you're not sure that they're breathing.
  • Each nasal spray gives one dose of Narcan® Nasal Spray and can't be reused.

More to Know

Can people have a bad reaction to Narcan® Nasal Spray? If someone has taken opioids a lot, Narcan® Nasal Spray can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms (for example, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and trembling). These symptoms may be uncomfortable but can be managed. The risk of dying from an opioid overdose is much higher than having a bad reaction to Narcan® Nasal Spray.

How should I store Narcan®? Store Narcan® Nasal Spray where you can get it quickly. Choose a dry place that doesn't get too hot or too cold (never keep it in a bathroom or in a car). Put the medicine in a locked container where young children can't reach it.

Will Narcan® Nasal Spray work if the person is not breathing? Yes, Narcan® Nasal Spray will work and can be given if a person is not breathing.