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Kloxxado

Generic name: naloxone (nasal) [ na-LOX-one ]
Brand names: Kloxxado, Narcan
Drug class: Antidotes

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on May 12, 2023.

What is Kloxxado?

Kloxxado (naloxone) nasal spray belongs to a class of medications called opiate antagonists. Naloxone works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood.

Kloxxado nasal spray is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of an opioid emergency such as a known opioid overdose or a suspected opioid overdose with signs of breathing problems and severe sleepiness, or not being able to respond.

Kloxxado nasal spray should not be used in place of emergency medical care for an overdose.

Warnings

Kloxxado is used to reverse the effects of opioid medicine and treat an opioid overdose. An opioid overdose can be fatal. Symptoms may include severe drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, slow breathing, or no breathing.

A person caring for you can give the Kloxxado if you stop breathing or don't wake up. Make sure any person caring for you knows where you keep Kloxxado and how to use it.

Your caregiver must still get emergency medical help and may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on you while waiting for help to arrive. You may need to give another spray every 2 to 3 minutes until emergency help arrives.

Before taking this medicine

You should not be treated with Kloxxado nasal spray if you are allergic to naloxone.

If possible before you use Kloxxado, tell your doctor if:

If you use opioid medicine during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks.

Using Kloxxado while you are pregnant may also cause opioid withdrawal effects in your unborn baby. However, having an opioid overdose can be fatal to both mother and baby. It is much more important to treat an overdose in the mother. You must get emergency medical help after using Kloxxado. Be sure all emergency medical caregivers know that you are pregnant and any follow-up doctor knows you received this medicine.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using Kloxxado nasal spray. It is not known if naloxone passes into your breast milk.

Kloxxado pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)

How should I use Kloxxado?

Use Kloxxado exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

This medicine may be given by a healthcare provider, emergency medical provider, or a family member or caregiver who is trained to properly give Kloxxado nasal spray.

Kloxxado nasal spray should be sprayed into the nose while the person is lying on his or her back.

Be sure you know how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose in the person you are caring for. Overdose symptoms may include:

Even if you are not sure an opioid overdose has occurred, if the person is not breathing or is unresponsive, give Kloxxado nasal spray right away and then seek emergency medical care.

Do not assume that an overdose episode has ended if symptoms improve. You must get emergency help after giving Kloxxado. You may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on the person while you are waiting for emergency help to arrive.

Stay with the person and watch for continued signs of overdose. You may need to give another dose every 2 to 3 minutes until emergency help arrives. Follow all medication instructions carefully.

Each Kloxxado spray pump is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.

Store Kloxxado nasal spray at room temperature away from moisture, heat and light. Do not freeze. Keep each spray pump in the box until you are ready to give a dose. Do not use this medicine if the expiration date on the label has passed.

Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose of Kloxxado nasal spray for Opioid Overdose

Administer 1 spray intranasally into 1 nostril
-If desired response is not achieved after 2 or 3 minutes, give a second dose intranasally into alternate nostril; additional doses may be administered every 2 to 3 minutes in alternating nostrils until emergency medical assistance arrives

Comments:
-IV route is recommended in emergency situations since it has the most rapid onset of action.

Usual Adult Dose of Kloxxado nasal spray for Reversal of Opioid Sedation:

-Administer 1 spray intranasally into 1 nostril
-If desired response is not achieved after 2 or 3 minutes, give a second dose intranasally into alternate nostril; additional doses may be administered every 2 to 3 minutes in alternating nostrils until emergency medical assistance arrives

Comments:
-Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome may be life-threatening and should be treated according to protocols developed by neonatology experts.
- To avoid precipitating opioid withdrawal symptoms, consider use of a naloxone product that can be dosed according to weight and titrated to effect.
-The duration of action of some opioids will exceed that of this drug, therefore, repeat doses may be needed; the need for repeat doses will depend on the amount, type, and route of administration of the opioid being antagonized.
-Patients should remain under continued surveillance; if a patients responds and relapses back into respiratory depression, additional doses should be given.
-Additional supportive and/or resuscitative measures may be helpful while awaiting emergency medical assistance.

Detailed Kloxxado dosage information

What happens if I miss a dose?

Kloxxado is used when needed and does not have a daily dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Since Kloxxado is supplied as the correct dose in a single-use spray pump, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while using Kloxxado?

Avoid leaving a person alone after giving a dose of Kloxxado nasal spray. An opioid overdose can impair a person's thinking or reactions.

Kloxxado side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Kloxxado: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Because Kloxxado reverses opioid effects, this medicine may cause sudden withdrawal symptoms such as:

Sudden withdrawal symptoms in a baby younger than 4 weeks old may be life-threatening if not treated the right way. Symptoms include crying, stiffness, overactive reflexes, and seizures. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you are not sure how to properly give this medicine to a baby.

Common Kloxxado side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Kloxxado side effects (more detail)

What other drugs will affect Kloxxado?

Other drugs may interact with naloxone nasal, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Kloxxado drug interactions (more detail)

Ingredients

Active ingredient: naloxone hydrochloride
Inactive ingredients: dehydrated alcohol (20% (w/w)) edetate disodium dihydrate, propylene glycol, purified water, and sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid to adjust pH.

Manufacturer

Distributed by: Hikma Specialty USA Inc. Columbus, OH 4322

Popular FAQ

Naloxone blocks opioid receptors from 30 to 120 minutes, but this can be variable and depends upon the dose and how it is given. Some patients may need repeat doses of naloxone. Continue reading

Narcan (naloxone) works in an overdose by reversing serious or deadly central nervous system (CNS) depression due to opioids (narcotics), including depressed breathing, extreme drowsiness and loss of consciousness. This effect usually occurs in minutes. Naloxone is considered a pure opioid antagonist and it works by blocking opioid receptors in the body. Continue reading

Naloxone is not a controlled substance, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It is an opioid antagonist used to treat known or suspected opioid overdose, and naloxone nasal spray (sold under the brand name, Narcan) was FDA-approved for sale over-the-counter on March 29th, 2023. It should be available for purchase in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online, without a prescription from late summer. Narcan Nasal Spray and naloxone is still available from the pharmacist in all 50 states without a prescription from your doctor.

Naloxone is a centrally acting opioid receptor antagonist. Naloxone binds with the highest affinity to the mu-opioid receptor subtype in the central nervous system (CNS). Naloxone works to reverse opioid overdose and a form of naloxone (Narcan nasal spray) was FDA-approved for over-the-counter (OTC) sale on 29th March 2023.

There are several ways to get free Narcan (naloxone) emergency kits, which include, local syringe exchange programs, your insurance company, and state and local health departments or other community health services. Continue reading

Buprenorphine and naloxone is a combination medicine used for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence in adults. It is available in sublingual film and sublingual tablet dosage forms under the brand names Suboxone, Zubsolv, Bunavail (discontinued), and Cassipa (discontinued). Continue reading

Narcan (naloxone) is available in different dose forms and can be given either as an injection or a nasal spray to reverse an opioid overdose. Continue reading

References

  1. Kloxxado Product Label

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Kloxxado only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Copyright 1996-2024 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01.