Naloxone is an opioid fighting medication called Narcan, but does Narcan work on Xanax? Used to treat mental health challenges like anxiety disorders, this prescription drug is also abused for the euphoric high. In fact, an estimated 5.3 million people in the U.S. misuse benzodiazepines like Xanax. When individuals overdose on Xanax, will Narcan help them? Let’s consider the properties of the medication to consider the best way to treat Xanax abuse.
What Is Narcan?
Narcan is an opioid agonist that mimics opioids’ effect on the brain but in reverse. Instead of creating pleasurable effects in the system, Narcan blocks the body’s responses to help people overcome their opioid addiction. Is naloxone the same thing as Narcan? Yes, Narcan is the branded name of the opioid medication. When was Narcan invented? This medication was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1971. It’s a powerful medication for counteracting opioid overdose. Notably, naloxone both restricts the impacts of opioids and begins to reverse them.
Since Narcan is available over-the-counter, it’s good to have on hand, as long as you receive the proper training. Naloxone can help save lives. In fact, police and first responders carry naloxone kits in case they encounter a person overdosing on opioids.
What Is Xanax?
Xanax is a prescription medication for a variety of physical and mental conditions. These include depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, which is a benzodiazepine medication. To elaborate, benzos are central nervous system depressants that slow and calm overactivity in the brain. When taken as prescribed, Xanax can be beneficial for reducing stress, anxiety, and mental health symptoms. However, many people misuse Xanax to feel its calming and slowing effects.
Notably, Xanax is a popularly used as a form of self-medication when a person wants to escape their situation for a while. Without a doubt, Xanax abuse is dangerous and can lead to overdose and addiction.
Does Narcan Work on Xanax?
We know Narcan has powerful results when it comes to reversing the effects of opioids. Does it also work on Xanax to prevent an overdose? No, since naloxone is an opioid agonist and Xanax is a benzodiazepine, the medication won’t have any effect. Unfortunately, Narcan specifically treats opioid abuse like opioid use disorder (OUD).
However, naloxone can reverse the effects of opioids if a person is overdosing from polysubstance abuse. For example, if an individual has both opioids and Xanax in their system, Narcan will act on the opioids. Polysubstance overdose is dangerous and life-threatening, so naloxone may be able to help. If you aren’t sure what the person took, is Narcan dangerous? It won’t have any effect on a person without opioids in their body, so Narcan is safe to administer when you’re not sure.
What Drug Overdoses Can Narcan Help With?
Let’s discuss which substances Narcan can be used to treat in overdose cases. As mentioned, Narcan specifically fights against opioids by mimicking their impact on the brain. Opioids encompass many prescription medications, including natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic opioids. At Royal Life Centers, we help individuals detox from any type of opioid that has a hold on their life. However, below are some of the opioids we commonly see involved in opioid addiction cases. Narcan can treat each of these drugs.
Heroin
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid made from morphine that has been processed in a lab. Notably, heroin doesn’t have any medical purpose and it abused solely for the high. Heroin abuse is a serious issue that can be aided by Narcan.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a lab-made opioid that significantly contributes to the opioid epidemic. Fentanyl traces are found in many other substances besides opioids because it is cheap to make. During black market drug creation, fentanyl is often added as a filler, making it easy for people to unknowingly overdose.
Morphine
Morphine is a natural opioid deriving directly from the opium poppy plant grown in South America. Morphine is commonly administered in medical settings as a pain reliever. Its use is closely monitored because it is highly addictive. However, it does still get abused recreationally.
Oxycodone
Oxycodone is a synthetic opioid made by modifying the certain alkaloids for a more potent result. As such, oxycodone is 1.5 to 2 times stronger than morphine. It is also used for pain relief when other medications haven’t produced results. Its brand name, OxyContin, is widely abused.
Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone is another powerful synthetic opioid that can be used short-term for pain relief or long-term for cancer pain management. Hydrocodone is stronger than both morphine and oxycodone, at roughly 2-8 times more potent than morphine. As a result, hydrocodone should be used as a later treatment option in people who require stronger medication. When abused, hydrocodone is very dangerous.
Why Are Opioids Dangerous?
You probably hear the dangers of opioids mentioned often, but what makes them so problematic? It comes down to how potent they are and their damage on the body when abused. Opioids, regardless of whether they’re natural or lab-made, are incredibly strong pain killer drugs. Also, they have an extreme addiction risk, meaning you can develop dependency on them quickly. To explain, opioids bind to the opioid receptors in your brain to control your pleasure responses. By flooding the system with happy neurochemicals like dopamine, you then associate opioids with those good feelings. Once the pleasurable effects wear off, you’ll desire more.
However, you can’t always feel the euphoria of opioids because you will start to develop tolerance. Before long, you’ll need higher doses more frequently just to function as normal. This is how the cycle of addiction begins and keeps you trapped inside of it. It’s a problem because of the toll drug use will have on your life. From your relationships to finances to mental and physical health, your wellbeing will drastically decline the longer you straggle with opioid use disorder (OUD).
What Are the Dangers of Xanax Abuse?
Similarly, Xanax can quickly lead you into the cycle of addiction. Benzodiazepines work on the brain by also stimulating the reward system. Instead of binding to the opioid receptors, benzos enhance the positive brain messenger known as GABA. By slowing down overactivity, you feel a deep calming and relaxing impact. Because Xanax changes how your system releases “happy hormones,” you’ll feel a pull to take more. However, consistent Xanax abuse can alter your brain chemistry so the drug is in control.
One high risk of Xanax overdose is slowing your system down too much. Side effects can include slow, shallow breathing known as respiratory depression. You can even go into a comatose state or die from benzodiazepine toxicity.
What To Do When Someone Is Overdosing
If you encounter someone overdosing, you will want to help but you might not know what to do. If you have Narcan on-hand and have been trained on how to use it, you can take the first steps yourself. If you aren’t sure what substances the person has taken, Narcan might not help them. However, it also won’t harm them if they haven’t taken opioids, it just won’t have any effect. Therefore, it’s safe for you to administer naloxone when someone is overdosing, especially if you know they’ve taken opioids.
Can you overdose on Narcan? No, the medication is safe and cannot be overdosed on. Yet, it’s important to note that naloxone can send a person into withdrawal, which can be uncomfortable and painful. Let’s talk about the specific steps to take in an overdose emergency.
Use Narcan for an Opioid Overdose
As noted, you can administer a Narcan dose if it will benefit the individual. If you believe you might encounter an overdose situation, you should get trained on how to properly administer naloxone. You can receive in-person or virtual training on Narcan. Take a look at the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s naloxone training. Then, you will be knowledgeable about how to help, how much Narcan to administer, and how to safely give it.
How to Use Narcan to Stop an Overdose
Narcan is available as an injectable liquid or a nasal spray. In training, you will cover how to use both forms to save a life. When you’re with someone who is overdosing, help the person lie down so you can safely administer the drug. With the nasal spray, provide one full spray into their nostril. With the syringe, inject the medication into their upper thigh or arm, depending on your access to the person. The effects of naloxone will set in quickly.
Call Emergency Services
As soon as you finish administering Narcan, call emergency services and give as much information as you can report. Try to get the individual to provide responses to keep them alert. If you don’t have Narcan on-hand, call 911 first and foremost as soon as you encounter the person overdosing. Since benzodiazepine overdose can’t be treated with Narcan, call for help immediately if you know the person has only taken benzos.
Check for a Pulse and Monitor Breathing
While you wait for emergency workers to meet you, stay with the person. They may exhibit slow, shallow breathing or a comatose state. This may be an indicator that they’ve overdosed on a depressant drug like Xanax. The person might be disoriented. Try to engage them in conversation if you can. Additionally, check their pulse points and monitor their breathing while you wait.
Keep Their Airway Clear
Try to help the individual get as comfortable as possible. It’s wise to move them from laying on their back to laying on their side. Cradle their head in their arm. If possible, raise their knee so they cannot roll onto their stomach. This position helps to keep their airways clear.
Finding Professional Help for Substance Abuse
Encountering someone who is overdosing can be a frightening experience. However, it is even scarier to be the person who is overdosing. If you’re struggling with a drug addiction, you can find professional help through Royal Life Centers. We offer comprehensive drug rehab for all substance use disorders at our many locations around the United States. Our admissions process is entirely customized to you as an individual. You don’t have to live with Xanax addiction any longer. Does Narcan work on Xanax? No, it doesn’t. To prevent an overdose situation that puts your life in danger, please let us help you overcome your addiction.
