Naloxone is the treatment for rapidly reversing a fentanyl overdose.
However, getting overdose treatment in time to avoid death is a challenge. Fentanyl is a fast-acting drug; every minute is critical in an overdose situation.
Those experiencing an overdose involving fentanyl may require higher naloxone doses and multiple administrations to reverse the overdose and to become stabilized.
Police and first responders at a crime scene or helping an overdose victim are at risk from inadvertently touching or inhaling any fentanyl powder that may be present.