Warnings for Kloxxado
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Precautions for Kloxxado
Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and Central Nervous System Depression
The duration of action of most opioids may exceed that of KLOXXADO resulting in a return of respiratory and/or central nervous system depression after an initial improvement in symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to seek emergency assistance immediately after administration of the first dose of KLOXXADO and to keep the patient under continued surveillance. Administer additional doses of KLOXXADO if the patient is not adequately responding or responds and then relapses back into respiratory depression, as necessary [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Additional supportive and/or resuscitative measure may be helpful while awaiting emergency medical assistance.
Risk of Limited Efficacy with Partial Agonists or Mixed Agonist/Antagonists
Reversal of respiratory depression by partial agonists or mixed/antagonists such as buprenorphine and pentazocine may be incomplete. Larger or repeat doses of naloxone hydrochloride may be required to antagonize buprenorphine because the latter has a long duration of action due to its slow rate of binding and subsequent slow dissociation from the opioid receptor [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Buprenorphine antagonism is characterized by a gradual onset of the reversal effects and a decreased duration of action of the normally prolonged respiratory depression.
Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal
The use of KLOXXADO in patients who are opioid-dependent may precipitate opioid withdrawal; the risk and severity of withdrawal increases as naloxone exposure increases. Opioid withdrawal is characterized by the following signs and symptoms: body aches, diarrhea, tachycardia, fever, runny nose, sneezing, piloerection, sweating, yawning, nausea or vomiting, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, shivering or trembling, abdominal cramps, weakness, and increased blood pressure. In neonates, opioid withdrawal may be life-threatening if not recognized and properly treated and may include the following signs and symptoms: convulsion, excessive crying, and hyperactive reflexes. Monitor the patient for the development of the signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
Abrupt postoperative reversal of opioid depression after using naloxone hydrochloride may result in nausea, vomiting, sweating, tremulousness, tachycardia, hypotension, hypertension, seizures, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest. Death, coma, and encephalopathy have been reported as sequelae of these events. These events have primarily occurred in patients who had pre-existing cardiovascular disorders or received other drugs that may have similar adverse cardiovascular effects. Monitor patients with pre-existing cardiac disease or patients who have received medications with potential adverse cardiovascular effects for hypotension, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, and pulmonary edema in an appropriate healthcare setting. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema associated with the use of naloxone hydrochloride is similar to neurogenic pulmonary edema, i.e., a centrally mediated massive catecholamine response leading to a dramatic shift of blood volume into the pulmonary vascular bed resulting in increased hydrostatic pressures.
There may be clinical settings, particularly the postpartum period in neonates with known or suspected exposure to maternal opioid use, where it is preferable to avoid the abrupt precipitation of opioid withdrawal symptoms. In these settings, consider use of an alternative, naloxone-containing product that can be titrated to effect and, where applicable, dosed according to weight [see Use in Specific Population (8.4)].
NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
Studies in animals to assess the carcinogenic potential of naloxone have not been conducted.
Mutagenesis
Naloxone was weakly positive in the Ames mutagenicity and in the in vitro human lymphocyte chromosome aberration test but was negative in the in vitro Chinese hamster V79 cell HGPRT mutagenicity assay and in the in vivo rat bone marrow chromosome aberration study.
Impairment of Fertility
Reproduction studies conducted in mice and rats at doses 3-times and 6-times, respectively, a human dose of 16 mg based on body surface area comparison, demonstrated no adverse effects on fertility of naloxone hydrochloride.
Patient Information for Kloxxado
Advise the patient and family members or caregivers to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information and Instructions for Use).
Recognition of Opioid Overdose
Inform patients and their family members or caregivers about how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose such as the following:
- Extreme somnolence – inability to awaken a patient verbally or upon a firm sternal rub.
- Respiratory depression – this can range from slow or shallow respiration to no respiration in a patient who is unarousable.
- Other signs and symptoms that may accompany somnolence and respiratory depression include the following:
- Miosis
- Bradycardia and/or hypotension
Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and Central Nervous System Depression
Instruct patients and their family members or caregivers that, because the duration of action of most opioids may exceed that of KLOXXADO, they must seek immediate emergency medical assistance after the first dose of KLOXXADO and keep the patient under continued surveillance [see Dosage and Administration (2.2), Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Limited Efficacy for/with Partial Agonists or Mixed Agonist/Antagonists
Instruct patients and their family members or caregivers that the reversal of respiratory depression caused by partial agonists or mixed agonist/antagonists, such as buprenorphine and pentazocine, may be incomplete and may require higher doses of naloxone hydrochloride or repeated administration of KLOXXADO, using a new nasal spray each time [see Dosage and Administration (2.2), Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal
Instruct patients and their family members or caregivers that the use of KLOXXADO in patients who are opioid dependent may precipitate opioid withdrawal [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Adverse Reactions (6)].
Administration Instructions
Instruct patients and their family members or caregivers to:
- Ensure KLOXXADO is present and readily available in locations where a person may be intentionally or accidentally exposed to an opioid overdose (i.e., opioid emergencies).
- Administer KLOXXADO as quickly as possible if a patient is unresponsive and an opioid overdose is suspected, even when in doubt, because prolonged respiratory depression may result in damage to the central nervous system or death. KLOXXADO is not a substitute for emergency medical care [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Lay the patient on their back and administer KLOXXADO into one nostril while providing support to the back of the neck to allow the head to tilt back [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Use each nasal spray only one time, DO NOT test or prime prior to use[see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Place patient in a recovery position by turning him/her to their side as shown in the Instructions for Use and call for emergency medical assistance immediately after administration of the first dose of KLOXXADO. Additional supportive and/or resuscitative measures may be helpful while awaiting emergency medical assistance [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Monitor patients and administer additional dose of KLOXXADO using a new KLOXXADO every 2 to 3 minutes, if the patient is not responding or responds and then relapses back into respiratory depression. Administer KLOXXADO in alternate nostrils with each dose [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Replace KLOXXADO before its expiration date.
Distributed by: Hikma Specialty USA Inc. Columbus, OH 43228 C50001184/01 Revised AUGUST 2025 KLOXXADO® is a registered trademark of Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.