FDA approves overdose antidote

Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration approved an overdose antidote for heroin and other opioids.

A physician can now prescribe the antidote to family members and caregivers to keep on hand in case a loved one overdoses on heroin or opioids.

Called Evzio, it’s a device that automatically injects a dose of the drug naloxone, a long-used antidote for opioid overdoses, while the individual awaits medical care.

Naloxone has been a mainstay of overdose treatment for years, but is usually administered by medical personnel in ambulances or emergency rooms. But with an increase in overdose-related deaths, there has been a push for antidotes like these to be made available to more people.

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Source: Washington Times