INDICATION: OPVEE® is for emergency treatment of known or suspected overdose induced by natural or synthetic opioids in patients 12 years and older, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression.

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The opioid epidemic continues to evolve

Synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, have changed the landscape.

In 2023, synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, caused about 92% of all opioid overdose deaths.1,*

*2023 data based on reported drug overdose death counts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last updated November 3, 2024.

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pills pill
Today's opioid epidemic is largely driven by fentanyl1

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are fast, long-lasting, and potent.2-5
Fentanyl can induce overdose in minutes.2
Fentanyl has a quick effect but stays in the body a long time.3,4
Reoverdose can occur when the rescue medicine loses effect while opioids are still in the system, requiring additional doses of rescue medicine.6


Fentanyl is up to

50x stronger than heroin and
100x stronger than morphine.5

Fentanyl is up to 50x stronger than heroin and 100x stronger than morphine.5

In 2024, 5 out of 10 illicit pills
seized by the DEA were laced with a potentially deadly amount of fentanyl.7

  Abbreviation: DEA, US Drug Enforcement Administration.

Opioid overdose deaths
disproportionately affect young people

In the United States, synthetic opioids are a leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 45 years.5,8,9

Overdoses involving carfentanil (100x more potent than fentanyl) increased more than 500% from Jan‑Jun 2023 (29 deaths) to Jul‑Dec 2023 (175 deaths) and continued to increase into 2024.10

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CONTRAINDICATION: Do not use in patients who are allergic to nalmefene or any of the other ingredients.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and Central Nervous System Depression: While the duration of action of nalmefene is as long as most opioids, a recurrence of slowed breathing (respiratory depression) is possible after treatment with OPVEE®. Watch patients and give repeat doses of OPVEE® using a new device, as necessary, while awaiting emergency medical assistance.


IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CONTRAINDICATION: Do not use in patients who are allergic to nalmefene or any of the other ingredients.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and Central Nervous System Depression: While the duration of action of nalmefene is as long as most opioids, a recurrence of slowed breathing (respiratory depression) is possible after treatment with OPVEE®. Watch patients and give repeat doses of OPVEE® using a new device, as necessary, while awaiting emergency medical assistance.

Risk of Limited Efficacy with Partial Agonists or Mixed Agonist/Antagonists: Improvement in respiratory depression caused by medicines such as buprenorphine and pentazocine may not be complete. Repeat doses of OPVEE® may be required.

Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal: Use in patients who are opioid dependent may cause symptoms of opioid withdrawal like body aches, fever, sweating, runny nose, sneezing, goose bumps, yawning, weakness, shivering or trembling, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, increased blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. Some patients may become aggressive when an opioid overdose is treated.

Abrupt postoperative reversal of opioid depression may result in adverse cardiovascular (CV) effects. These events have primarily occurred in patients with preexisting CV disorders or who received other drugs with similar adverse CV effects. Monitor these patients closely in an appropriate healthcare setting.

In newborns, opioid withdrawal may be life-threatening if not recognized and properly treated and may also include convulsions, excessive crying, and hyperactive reflexes. Monitor for symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

Risk of Opioid Overdose from Attempts to Overcome the Blockade: Taking large or repeated doses of opioids, such as heroin or prescription pain pills to overcome blockade, may lead to opioid intoxication and death.

ADVERSE REACTIONS: Most common adverse reactions (incidence at least 2%) are nasal discomfort, headache, nausea, dizziness, hot flush, vomiting, anxiety, fatigue, nasal congestion, throat irritation, pain in the nose, decreased appetite, changes in sense of taste, skin redness, and increased sweating.

To report a pregnancy or side effects associated with taking OPVEE® or any safety related information, product complaint, request for medical information, or product query, please contact or 1-877-782-6966. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information.


1. Ahmad FB, Cisewski JA, Rossen LM, Sutton P. National Vital Statistics System. Provisional drug overdose death counts: 12 month-ending provisional number of drug overdose deaths by drug or drug class. National Center for Health Statistics. Updated November 3, 2024. Accessed November 20, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
2. Fairbairn N, Coffin PO, Walley AY. Naloxone for heroin, prescription opioid, and illicitly made fentanyl overdoses: challenges and innovations responding to a dynamic epidemic. Int J Drug Policy. 2017;46:172-179.
3. Skolnick P. Treatment of overdose in the synthetic opioid era. Pharmacol Ther. 2022;233:108019.
4. Burns SM, Cunningham CW, Mercer SL. DARK classics in chemical neuroscience: fentanyl. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2018;9(10):2428-2437.
5. Cotton T, Trone DJ, Markey E, et al. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking: Final Report. RAND Corporation; February 8, 2022. Accessed October 29, 2024. https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68838.html
6. OPVEE. Prescribing information. Indivior Inc; 2023.
7. One pill can kill. United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Accessed January 7, 2025. https://www.dea.gov/onepill
8. WISQARS Injury Database. Leading causes of death: 10 leading causes of death, United States: 2022 (ages 18-45) and unintentional injury for ages 18-45, United States: 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://wisqars.cdc.gov/lcd/?o=LCD&y1=2022&y2=2022&ct=10&cc=ALL&g=00&s=0&r=0&ry=2&e=0&ar=lcd1age&at=custom&ag=lcd1age&a1=18&a2=45
9. CDC WONDER Online Database. Multiple cause of death, 2018-2022, and provisional data for years 2023-2024. Single-year ages: 18-45 years. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated January 5, 2025. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/datarequest/D176;jsessionid=A5FB9BC5D8A289A443804366FADA
10. Tanz LJ, Stewart A, Gladden RM, Ko JY, Owens L, O’Donnell J. Detection of illegally manufactured fentanyls and carfentanil in drug overdose deaths — United States, 2021-2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(48):1099-1105.
11. Full transcript: DEA Administrator Anne Milgram on “Face the Nation,” December 19, 2021. CBS News. December 19, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-dea-administrator-anne-milgram-face-the-nation-12-19-2021