The FDA said April 30 it has approved a higher dose of naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdose.
Nasal sprays will now be available containing 8 milligrams of naloxone. Previously, the highest dosage approved was 4 milligrams.
Naloxone can be given by people with or without medical training. If given quickly, it can counter opioid overdose effects, usually within minutes.
"Today's action meets another critical need in combating opioid overdose," Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a news release. "Addressing the opioid crisis is a top priority for the FDA, and we will continue our efforts to increase access to naloxone and place this important medicine in the hands of those who need it most."
Read the FDA's full news release here.