Narcan Side Effects

Generic Name: Naloxone

Please note - some side effects for Narcan may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Narcan - for the consumer

Narcan

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Narcan:

Change in mood; increased sweating; nausea; nervousness; restlessness; trembling; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); dizziness; fainting; fast or irregular pulse; flushing; headache; heart rhythm changes; seizures; sudden chest pain.

For the professional

Narcan

Postoperative

The following adverse events have been associated with the use of Narcan in postoperative patients: hypotension, hypertension, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest. Death, coma, and encephalopathy have been reported as sequelae of these events. Excessive doses of Narcan in postoperative patients may result in significant reversal of analgesia and may cause agitation .

Opioid Depression

Abrupt reversal of opioid depression may result in nausea, vomiting, sweating, tachycardia, increased blood pressure, tremulousness, seizures, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest which may result in death.

Opioid Dependence

Abrupt reversal of opioid effects in persons who are physically dependent on opioids may precipitate an acute withdrawal syndrome which may include, but is not limited to, the following signs and symptoms: body aches, fever, sweating, runny nose, sneezing, piloerection, yawning, weakness, shivering or trembling, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, increased blood pressure, tachycardia. In the neonate, opioid withdrawal may also include: convulsions; excessive crying; hyperactive reflexes.

Adverse events associated with the postoperative use of Narcan are listed by organ system and in decreasing order of frequency as follows:

Cardiac Disorders
pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest or failure, tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia. Death, coma, and encephalopathy have been reported as sequelae of these events.

Gastrointestinal Disorders
vomiting, nausea

Nervous System Disorders
convulsions, paraesthesia, grand mal convulsion

Psychiatric Disorders
agitation, hallucination, tremulousness

Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders
dyspnea, respiratory depression, hypoxia

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
nonspecific injection site reactions, sweating

Vascular Disorders
hypertension, hypotension, hot flushes or flushing.

See also  PRECAUTIONS and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION; Usage in Adults; Postoperative Opioid Depression.

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