What is Naloxone?
Naloxone, also known as the brand name Narcan, is the main medicine which is used to reverse an opioid overdose. The medicine is an opioid antagonist, which means it attached to opioid receptors and then will reverse and block the effects of other opioids. Narcan is mostly used to treat cases of narcotic overdose in emergencies, and one of the most important questions people have is “how long does Narcan last?”
Naloxone helps people going through an opioid overdose right away and restores their breathing back to normal. This should not be used as a long-term solution for someone who is addicted to opioids. This person should instead take it as a wake up sign to get treatment as soon as possible.
However, most abusers of opioids live in denial of a problem, making it necessary for a drug like Naloxone to be created, and both practitioners and users need to understand “how long does Narcan last?”
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How Does Naloxone Work?
Naloxone has two different ways to use it. You can either get a nasal spray or have it injected into the muscle, under the skin or directly into the veins. When getting Naloxone, or Narcan, you need to be trained on how to use it beforehand no matter which type of delivery method you choose to administer the medicine.
Naloxone can only work when opioids are in the system presently. If there’s no opioids presently in the person’s body, Naloxone doesn’t affect the person who used that medication. The medication needs the opioid in the person’s system as it binds itself to opioid receptors to reverse or prevent the drug’s results.
Doses are usually administered based on the severity of the overdose. In some cases, more than one dose is needed to help the person who has overdosed breathe again. It is essential that Naloxone is not administered by a person who has no training of any sort.
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How Long Does Narcan Last?
Narcan, which is the brand name of Naloxone, blocks opioid receptors ranging from 30 to 120 minutes. This is not to say that once it’s administered that the person who got treated for opioid overdose is cured. It’s important to still go to the hospital and get medical attention right away to make sure they won’t overdose again as it depends how large a dose of opioids are in their system and the medicine might not be strong enough for the specific dosage.
Effects and Abuse of Naloxone
The effects of Naloxone are usually positive as it helps the person who can’t breathe and is struggling with an opioid overdose. However, for people who have been using opioids constantly and over long periods, side effects are apparent. Upon the administration of the drug, a long time opioid users may experience side effects immediately, which makes them concerned about how long does Narcan last.
The side effects of using Naloxone is getting withdrawal symptoms. The acute opioid withdrawal symptoms are fevers, body aches, trembling/shivering, stomach cramps, and nausea. People who develop withdrawal symptoms are more prone to becoming irritable and anxious.
In most cases, Naloxone lasts for about 20-90 minutes in the system of the user. The answer to the famous question of how long does Narcan last in the system is answered, but it’s not always predictable In most instances, Narcan lasts about 90 minutes in the system of the user when administered nasally, although the answer to how long does Narcan last can vary a great deal.
Naloxone cannot be abused. The nature of this drug only allows it to work when opioids are present in the body. The drug blocks all the effects of opioids, meaning that any attempts to combine the drug with opioids are pointless, regardless of the answer to the question of how long does Narcan last.
Naloxone and Mental illness.
When someone gets withdrawal symptoms after Naloxone is administered it is reported that it might be connected to mental illness. Part of the withdrawal symptoms makes someone mentally more nervous and paranoid. People have also reported to sometimes have hallucinations and tremors after taking Naloxone. These types of side effects make patients very interested in knowing “how long does Narcan last?”
Apart from the withdrawal symptoms, Naloxone cannot be directly linked to any mental health issues. In most instances, mental health illnesses are caused by drugs which, make it necessary for Naloxone to be used. It is generally accepted that Naloxone if anything, helps treat or reduce the effect of opioids on the mental health of a patient, which is why it’s important to understand the impact of this drug and know the answer to the question of how long does Narcan last.
How Long Does Narcan Last: Naloxone Treatments
Naloxone is only a temporary treatment and should be used an emergency situation of opioid overdose. People who get the relief from Naloxone sometimes believe they don’t need to seek any help since it’s helped them temporarily. This is untrue and overdoses can continue to happen if the person doesn’t get addiction treatment right away. Naloxone is equivalent to a bandage on a deep cut on your leg, it needs to be taken seriously and looked at from a medical professional.
Naloxone is a short-term emergency treatment and can save people’s lives before the ambulance gets there; however, opioid addiction is lifelong and you need a long-term plan with seeking and sticking to an addiction treatment facility.
Long-term treatment options are available so that overdoses can be avoided entirely. Treatments for opioid addictions vary and are usually dependent on the specifics of a patient’s needs. The most commonly favored are inpatient treatments, outpatient treatments, and therapy.
Inpatient Therapy
When seeking addiction treatment for opioid abuse, the person has the option of a more intense and hands-on treatment type, which is inpatient therapy. It removes the person from their familiar environment, whether this just be their home or completely different state or city the facility is located in. It gives the person going through rehab less chances of being able to relapse and go back to old habits of using opioids with the 24/7 supervision and support in the facility.
Resurgence Behavioral Health has a team of addiction specialists who can help patients throughout the day with whatever barriers come their way. Inpatient treatment offers the safety and stability of always having someone to keep you accountable as well as being able to successfully and safely detoxing from opioids. Dietary plans and physical exercises are administered and taught at Resurgence.
Outpatient Therapy
Outpatient treatment is less intense although still effective for opioid addiction. Outpatient treatment is facilitated still in the addiction treatment center but once patients are done with treatment they go home. Outpatient treatment has the same type of therapies patients can choose from the only difference is they go home afterward and don’t need a place to sleep and eat.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral therapy can be used in outpatient or inpatient treatment. It’s used to identify the underlying issues of your opioid addiction and getting to the root cause of it. This type of treatment varies in time but usually lasts 20 to 40 days on average but can also go on for longer. It’s dependent on the progress being made with your therapists and identifying if you need anymore help. Once the patient fully understands why they suffer from opioid abuse, the therapist can help the patient make better choices in the future.
Insurance Verification
We need to ensure that all of our clients get the best treatment. This is why we offer free insurance provider verification. Resurgence will contact your insurance provider to confirm the nature of the treatment that you require. We also accept PPO insurance in addition to private forms of payment for treatments received. Our trained personnel are available to ensure that you receive full insurance benefits for your treatment.
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Contact Us Now!
It’s a difficult task admitting to being addicted to opioids, but once you admit it to yourself and want to get better, Resurgence Behavioral Health is here to help every step of the way. At Resurgence, we offer all the solutions to your problems. You can contact us now at 855-458-0050 to make inquires or to speak to our trained medical personnel.
