The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved naloxone hydrochloride (ZIMHI) injection to treat opioid overdose. Naloxone is a medicine utilized to help reduce opioid overdose deaths, and prefilled syringes are now an additional option. This drug can be administered through an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection containing 5 milligrams of naloxone hydrochloride. This high dose medication should result in higher levels of naloxone circulating in the body, which in turn should lead to more successful resuscitations.
During an overdose on opioids, an individual’s breathing may become shallow or stop, leading to death and there is no medical intervention. After use of ZIMHI for an opioid-dependent individual some symptoms may occur, such as runny nose, sweating, severe body aches, vomiting and diarrhea.