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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
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Narcan is the brand name of a 4 mg naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray. In March 2023 the FDA approved it for nonprescription use, the first naloxone product that can be sold without a prescription. This page is written for clinic staff, buyers and students who need to know exactly what the product is, how it differs from other naloxone forms, and what it does and does not cover.
What Narcan is
Narcan is a naloxone nasal spray used to reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone is a medication that can reverse overdose from opioids, including fentanyl, heroin and prescription opioids (CDC). The FDA’s announcement of 29 March 2023 describes Narcan as a 4 mg naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray approved for nonprescription use, and quotes naloxone as “the standard treatment for opioid overdose.”
“Narcan” is a brand; “naloxone” is the medicine. The approval applies to this specific 4 mg nasal spray: the FDA states that other naloxone formulations and dosages remain prescription-only.
Who uses it: the CDC states that anyone can give naloxone, in either form, without medical training. Facilities that stock it include addiction treatment programs, correctional medical units, campus health centers and workplaces that keep first-aid supplies.
Narcan uses
Narcan is used for suspected opioid overdose. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids; the manufacturer describes the active ingredient as competing with opioids to bind the same receptors in the brain. The CDC notes that naloxone will not harm someone who is overdosing on a non-opioid drug. It does not treat overdoses caused by other substances, and it is not a substitute for emergency care.
How the nasal spray is built
The CDC describes the nasal form as a prefilled device that sprays into the nose. The manufacturer states that one nasal spray device contains one dose and that the product needs no needles or nasal swabs. For anyone planning stock, the practical consequence is that a single device is a single dose. The CDC adds that more than one dose may be needed with stronger opioids such as fentanyl.
Narcan types: nasal spray versus injectable
| Type | Typical use | Key difference | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narcan 4 mg nasal spray | Reversing a suspected opioid overdose | First naloxone product approved for nonprescription sale (29 March 2023) | FDA press announcement |
| Other naloxone nasal formulations and dosages | Opioid overdose reversal | Remain prescription-only | FDA press announcement |
| Injectable naloxone | Opioid overdose reversal | Given into muscle or under the skin rather than the nose | CDC, Naloxone |
The CDC states that both the nasal and injectable forms are safe and effective, and that the choice may depend on cost, availability and comfort.
Specifications that matter
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient and strength | Naloxone hydrochloride, 4 mg | FDA press announcement |
| Doses per device | One | Narcan manufacturer website |
| Sale status of the 4 mg nasal spray | Nonprescription (over the counter) | FDA press announcement |
How to choose
Two criteria separate the options. First, the form: the CDC lists cost, availability and comfort as the factors that may decide between nasal and injectable naloxone. Second, the regulatory status: the 4 mg nasal spray is the nonprescription product, while other formulations and dosages need a prescription. The CDC also notes that doctors can co-prescribe naloxone with high-dose opioids, and that it is sold over the counter in all 50 states and available through community programs and most syringe services programs. Pricing and the sales timeline are set by the manufacturer and are not covered here.
Using the label and instructions
The Drug Facts label and the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific product are the authority on how a device is used. This page deliberately gives no step-by-step instructions and no dosing. The CDC notes that naloxone cannot be used on yourself during an overdose.
For facility planning, see the CASRAI guides on opioid stewardship programs, the addiction treatment facility supply checklist, the OSHA-compliant first aid kit stocking guide and the correctional facility medical unit supply checklist.
Common mistakes
- Treating “Narcan” and “naloxone” as interchangeable products. Narcan is one 4 mg nasal spray; other forms and dosages have different sale status.
- Treating naloxone as a replacement for emergency care. It reverses opioid effects but is not a substitute for emergency services.
- Assuming one device is always enough for stock planning. One device holds one dose, and more than one dose may be needed with stronger opioids.
- Assuming it is harmful if the drug is unknown. The CDC says it will not harm someone overdosing on a non-opioid.
FAQ
What is Narcan?
Narcan is a 4 mg naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray that reverses opioid overdose; the FDA approved it for nonprescription use on 29 March 2023.
What are Narcan’s uses?
Reversing a suspected opioid overdose, including fentanyl, heroin and prescription opioids (CDC). It does not replace emergency care.
How do I use Narcan?
Anyone can give it without medical training (CDC). The manufacturer’s Drug Facts label and instructions for use are the authority on how a device is used; this page gives general product information only.
What types of Narcan and naloxone are there?
Narcan itself is the 4 mg nasal spray. Naloxone more broadly comes as a nasal spray or an injection into muscle or under the skin (CDC); other formulations and dosages than the 4 mg spray remain prescription-only (FDA).
Sources
- CDC, Naloxone, checked 3 November 2026.
- U.S. FDA, FDA Approves First Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray, 29 March 2023; checked 3 November 2026.
- Narcan manufacturer website, narcan.com, checked 3 November 2026.
