Already within a few months, naloxone could be available to buy without a prescription at pharmacies around Sweden, according to the Minister of Social Affairs.
The reason is that the Swedish Medicines Agency changes its assessment that the law does not allow naloxone to be sold without a prescription. That is one of the conclusions after a meeting the Minister of Social Affairs had with the Swedish Medical Products Agency and the National Board of Health and Welfare.
– The Swedish Medicines Agency is now making a renewed assessment of the possibility of offering naloxone without a prescription in Sweden. Their assessment now is that this is possible, says Jakob Forssmed.
As recently as a year ago, the Swedish Medicines Agency said no to over-the-counter naloxone.
Everyone can buy
Today, naloxone may only be prescribed by doctors and nurses directly to people who are at risk of overdose.
The new assessment opens up a significantly wider distribution in society. Anyone can then go into a pharmacy and buy the nasal spray. The requirement is that pharmacists must assist with instructions on how to use the spray.
– It opens up very good opportunities for the individual, but also for relatives and organizations that come into contact with people who abuse drugs, says Forssmed.
It is now required that the companies that manufacture naloxone submit an application to the Swedish Medicines Agency that it may be sold without a prescription in Sweden, he says.
– I also want to draw the attention of the companies that do this, that manufacture this product, to this new relationship. Now you can participate and actually assist in saving more lives in Sweden through this.
TT: How quickly can it be before naloxone is available in pharmacies?
– My assessment is that in a few months’ time this could be in place, says Forssmed.
Many deaths
In Sweden, approximately 900 people die from drug or medicine poisoning each year. The most common cause is precisely opioids, such as heroin or fentanyl.
Forssmed refers the question of why the Medical Products Agency changes its mind to the authority.
– But I judge that because it is so important and life-saving, they have really worked hard and twisted and turned the issue once more, to review how we can make sure to better distribute naloxone in the community to save life. It has been done and a solution has been found.
Once an application is received, Forssmed is assured that the Swedish Medicines Agency will process it promptly.
Policemen and security guards
About half of all opioid overdoses occur in public spaces such as parks, bus stops or stairwells. The government’s major narcotics investigation that was presented earlier this fall proposed a new law which means that staff at, for example, shelters as well as professional groups such as police officers and security guards should be able to have naloxone available.
It will still be relevant to proceed with, according to the minister.
– The freedom to prescribe is a more important piece of the puzzle in this context. But the measures are not mutually exclusive. In combination, they will be able to make a big difference.
Facts: Naloxone
An overdose of opioids can cause you to stop breathing, which leads to lack of oxygen, unconsciousness and the heart stops beating.
Naloxone is an antidote to all types of opioids. With naloxone, breathing can be restarted, but only for about half an hour. Therefore, an ambulance must also be called.
Examples of opioids are: heroin, methadone, fentanyl, buprenorphine and painkillers such as tramadol and oxycodone.
Naloxone is available both as a nasal spray and in syringe form.
Naloxone itself cannot be abused and does not lead to addiction.
Naloxone has been available in the Swedish healthcare system for a long time. In 2017, doctors were given the right to prescribe naloxone directly to people at risk of an overdose. The following year, nurses also received that right.
Source: National Board of Health and Welfare