How do you give Narcan nasal spray?
Medically reviewed by Asia, RN, BSN
Written by Justin Alcalde, AHA and American Red Cross instructor, CPR West Covina
Price and class details checked .
Lay the person on their back, tilt their head back, put the nozzle in one nostril and press the plunger firmly to give the dose. Call 911 right after the first dose. The Narcan label says to wait 2 to 3 minutes and, if they do not wake up, give another dose with a new device in the other nostril, then stay with them until help arrives. Each device sprays once, and you do not prime or test it.
Learn the order of these steps ahead of time with our SOS First Aid app, which breaks each protocol into numbered steps and includes opioid emergencies in its BLS section.
Narcan is a brand of naloxone nasal spray, 4 mg in each device. The steps below come from its FDA Drug Facts label and Instructions for Use. Other naloxone sprays sold over the counter have their own directions on their Drug Facts label, so follow the one in your hand.
FDA labelSAMHSASteps from the Narcan label
- Check for an overdose.
The label describes a suspected overdose as someone who will not wake up, is very sleepy, or is not breathing well. Yell "Wake up!" and shake them gently. If they do not wake up, go on. Our guide to the signs of an overdose explains what to look for.
FDA label - Lay them on their back and open the package.
Lay the person on their back. Peel back the tab to take the spray out of its package. Do not test or prime it: each device holds one dose and sprays only once.
FDA label - Hold the spray and tilt their head back.
Put your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and your first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle. Support the back of their neck with your hand so their head tilts back.
FDA label - Spray into one nostril.
Gently insert the tip of the nozzle into either nostril until your fingers touch the bottom of their nose. Press the plunger firmly, then take the nozzle out.
FDA label - Call 911 right away.
The label says to call 911 immediately after the first dose. Narcan does not take the place of emergency medical care, even if the person wakes up.
FDA label - Turn them on their side and watch.
Move them onto their side, in the recovery position, and watch them closely. Wait 2 to 3 minutes to give the medicine time to work.
FDA label - No response? Give another dose.
If they do not wake up or start breathing normally, use a new device in the other nostril. The Drug Facts label says you can keep giving doses every 2 to 3 minutes, that it is safe to keep giving doses, and that you may need every dose in the pack.
FDA label - Stay until help arrives.
Stay even if they wake up. If they become very sleepy again, the label says to give another dose. Put each used device back in its box and throw it away where children cannot reach it.
FDA label
If they are not breathing
The Narcan patient information says rescue breathing or CPR may be given while you wait for emergency help. SAMHSA says that if you are not trained in rescue breathing and chest compressions, follow the 911 operator's instructions. If the person is not breathing or only gasping, the AHA's 2025 steps for the public say to start CPR, give naloxone if you have it, then resume CPR. Our Narcan or CPR first guide compares every source.
FDA labelSAMHSAAHA 2025Before you ever need it
- Tell people where it is. The Narcan patient information says family members and caregivers should know where the spray is kept and how to give it before an emergency happens.
- Remember you cannot give it to yourself. CDC says that because you cannot use naloxone on yourself, you should let others know you carry it.
- Check the date. The carton says to check the expiration date before use. Expiration, storage and side effects are in Narcan side effects, expiration and other facts.
Where sources differ
When to call 911. The Narcan label says to give the first dose, then call 911 immediately. CDC lists giving naloxone and calling 911 as one step. The Red Cross says to call 911, then give naloxone. If someone else is there, one person can call while the other gives the spray.
When to give the second dose. The Narcan label, CDC and SAMHSA say to wait 2 to 3 minutes. The Red Cross says to give a second dose with a new device if there is no improvement after 5 minutes.
How many doses to give. The Narcan Drug Facts label says to keep giving doses every 2 to 3 minutes until the person wakes up, and that it is safe to keep giving doses. SAMHSA says more than one dose may not be necessary for a known fentanyl overdose, and that giving a second dose too quickly can make it look as if more doses were needed.
What counts as a response. The Drug Facts label says to keep dosing until the person wakes up. The Narcan Instructions for Use say to give another dose if they do not respond by waking up, to voice or touch, or by breathing normally. SAMHSA says breathing is more important than waking up.
Learn it before you need it
Our SOS First Aid app lets you review the whole response at home, and its AI assistant answers questions about compression rates, AED use and more, based on the AHA 2025 guidelines. For the spray in your hands, the Red Cross Naloxone Skill Boost is $75 here, and Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED ($98) and Red Cross BLS ($69) cover opioid emergencies too.
Questions people ask
Do you spray Narcan in both nostrils?
No. One device is one dose in one nostril. If a second dose is needed, the label says to use a new device in the other nostril.
Do you need to prime or test Narcan first?
No. The label says not to test the device before use. It is ready to spray, and each device sprays only once.
Can you give Narcan to a child?
Yes. FDA says naloxone can be given to people of all ages, and the Narcan prescribing information says it is safe and effective in children for known or suspected opioid overdose. Call 911 right away.
Can I use Narcan on myself?
No. CDC says you cannot use naloxone on yourself, so let the people around you know you carry it and where it is.
What should I tell the 911 dispatcher?
SAMHSA says all you have to say is that someone is unresponsive and not breathing, and to give a specific address or description of where you are. The Red Cross says to tell the dispatcher it may be an opioid overdose. Then follow the dispatcher's instructions.
Related guides
- Signs of a fentanyl or opioid overdose
- Narcan side effects, expiration and other facts
- Narcan or CPR first? What each authority says
Sources
This page is education, not medical or legal advice. In an emergency, call 911 first.
- NARCAN Naloxone HCl Nasal Spray 4 mg, over the counter Drug Facts label (Emergent Devices, DailyMed version published August 24, 2026)
- NARCAN Nasal Spray prescribing information, Patient Information and Instructions for Use (Emergent Devices, label revised December 2022, DailyMed version December 8, 2025)
- CDC: What to Do If You Think Someone Is Overdosing (reviewed April 2, 2024)
- CDC: Naloxone FAQ (reviewed April 2, 2024)
- CDC: Lifesaving Naloxone (reviewed June 11, 2025)
- SAMHSA: Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit, PEP23-03-00-001 (revised 2024)
- American Red Cross: How to Use Naloxone (September 9, 2026)
- American Heart Association: 2025 CPR and ECC algorithms (adult and pediatric BLS, lay rescuer steps)
- FDA Consumer Update: Access to Naloxone Can Save a Life During an Opioid Overdose (content current as of June 16, 2026)
- American Heart Association: Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED course page
- American Red Cross: BLS training page
- American Red Cross: Skill Boosts one sheet (Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Administration)