How does Narcan work? Mapping how it reverses opioid overdose can provide a molecular blueprint for more effective drugs
- Written by Saif Khan, Ph.D. Candidate in Biology, University of Southern California
Naloxone competes with opioids for the same receptor on the surface of neurons.Matt Rourke/AP PhotoNaloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is one of the most important drugs in the United States’ fight against the opioid crisis. It reverses an opioid overdose nearly instantly, restarting breathing in a person who was unresponsive...

