USA. New overdose antidote approved, but concerns raised about cost, side effects
USA. New overdose antidote approved, but concerns raised about cost, side effects
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a nasal-spray medication touted as another option to reverse overdoses caused by synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, the drug killing tens of thousands of Americans each year.
Drugmaker Indivior describes Opvee, a spray version of the drug nalmefene, as a potent medication that will save lives by acting quickly to reverse an overdose while potentially protecting against more overdoses for hours. But some public health experts, physicians and community groups are raising concerns that Opvee may burden taxpayers despite other proven, cheaper medications such a naloxone while causing agonizing, long-lasting withdrawal symptoms for some drug users after they are revived. (Washington Post, USA, 22.05.2023)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/05/22/new-opioid-reversal-drug-/