FDA says opioid labels must include information about naloxone

Manufacturers of opioid painkillers will now have to include information about naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses, on package labels, according to new FDA requirements. In recent weeks, the U.S. government has released data showing that opioid overdose deaths hit a record high in 2019. And several states in recent months have reported an increase in 911 calls for overdoses, as pandemic-related stressors likely take a toll on some people. The FDA is also going to be requiring labels for three other drugs that help treat opioid use disorder: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. “Today’s action can help further raise awareness about this potentially life-saving treatment for individuals that may be at greater risk of an overdose and those in the community most likely to observe an overdose,” FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement.