Local pharmacies still have nasal spray version

The Food and Drug Administration reported this week that the injectable Naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote, has been recalled for particular matter, but local pharmacists said not to worry, that they still have the nasal spray available.

“The nasal spray is a lot more common,” Jeff Bailey of Bailey Pharmacy said. “We actually made an order this past week for the nasal spray.”

According to the FDA, if a patient were to receive defective Naloxone there is a chance they could experience an adverse reaction, such as allergic reactions, pulmonary emboli, toxicity and tissue ischemia.

“Last month we prescribed about three to four nasal spray,” Bailey said. “A lot of physicians are becoming aware of the potential there is to save lives.”

Bailey said that physicians usually look to see how much at risk a patient is to see if they need to prescribe the antidote.

Once only available in hospitals to be given by healthcare professionals, the severity of the opioid epidemic has led many first responders to carry the life-saving drug.

Walmart pharmacist Debra Maraman said that they are trying to make more people aware of the opioid antidote.

“A lot of patients understand that it is for their safety,” Maraman said. “They take the time to hear what we have to say about it.”

Maraman said that physicians look at CDC recommendations and combinations of drugs before they prescribe Naloxone.

“This is basically a life-saving drug,” Maraman said. “So patients need it because they never know what might happen. I had a patient tell me that they had taken a combination of drugs and his mother knew where he kept his Naloxone and it saved him.”

Only some insurances cover this medicine, Maraman said.

“The main problem with this medicine is that it is so costly to people who do not have it covered by insurance,” Maraman said. “A lot of them have a discounted card, but it still isn’t enough, but they are still willing to hear us out about the benefits of the medicine.”

Hospira Inc., the company which makes Naloxone, said that it places the utmost emphasis on patient safety and product quality at every step in manufacturing and supply chain process.