Narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, has received federal approval to be sold without a prescription at pharmacies throughout the United States.
The nasal spray form of Narcan, made by Maryland-based company Emergent BioSolutions, was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015 as a prescription drug. Its active ingredient, naloxone, is a compound that binds to opioid receptors in the brain and reverses the potentially fatal effects of opioid intoxication, such as coma and respiratory depression.
In an announcement on Wednesday, the FDA said Americans can now buy the life-saving medication over the counter in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations, as well as online….