By Lenyon Whitaker, Metro
When paramedics found Demi Lovato unconscious from an apparent drug overdose, they treated her with Narcan before rushing her to the hospital. But what is Narcan and why did paramedics give it to her when they arrived at the scene?
What is Narcan exactly and how does it work?
Narcan is the brand name for the emergency medication. Naloxone HCl It comes in a nasal spray and is used for emergency treatment of opioid or suspected opioid use. According to the Narcan website, the naloxone nasal spray is used in emergency situations when there are signs of breathing problems or unresponsiveness due to a possible opioid drug overdose.[post_ads_2]
Tom Ferraro, professor of biomedical sciences at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. said that Narcan "blocks the ability of opioids to do what they do at the molecular level" during an interview with WHYY. This can help explain why it is used to reverse the common effects of an opioid overdose.