How to give naloxone nasal spray
How to give naloxone nasal spray
1. Check to see if the person is responsive.
Look for a response when you ask questions or shake the person.
2. Look for signs of an opioid emergency.
These include:
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing.
- Blue or grayish lips or fingertips.
3. Put the person on their back.
Tilt their head back.
4. Put the nasal spray tip in one nostril.
Push firmly on the plunger.
5. Call 911, or ask someone else to call.
- Follow the 911 operator's directions.
- If the person doesn't respond after 2 to 3 minutes, give another dose in the other nostril.
- Naloxone spray can't be reused. A new nasal spray is needed for a second dose.
6. Reposition the person, and wait for help.
- When the person starts breathing, lay them on their left side with their right knee bent and the left arm above their head.
- Put their right hand under their head to support it.
- Stay with the person until help arrives.
Current as of: May 1, 2026
Author: WebMD Ignite Staff
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