What Drugs Does Narcan Reverse?

Evidence-based answer reviewed against SAMHSA cutoffs and FDA assay documentation · Updated September 2026

Quick answer: No — not on any standard panel. Naloxone is absent from routine 5-, 10-, and 12-panel employment drug tests. Never screened on any standard or expanded employment panel.

Which panels screen for it

PanelNaloxone status
5-Panel❌ Not included
10-Panel❌ Not included
12-Panel❌ Not included
DOT 5-panel (safety-sensitive)❌ Not included

The details that matter

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdoses — it is not a drug of abuse and produces no intoxication. It appears on no standard or expanded drug panel, and it does not cause positives for opioids or any other screened drug.

If you administered naloxone to someone else (or received it yourself during an overdose), it will not show up on your own drug test. The only interaction to know about is medical, not testing: naloxone can precipitate withdrawal in opioid-dependent people.

The 'does Narcan show up on a drug test' question is common because people carry or administer it in emergencies. The answer is no: no panel screens for it, and it has no cross-reactivity with any standard immunoassay.

If it IS detected, how long does it last?

Ranges reflect occasional-to-heavy use patterns from FDA device inserts and SAMHSA-certified lab conventions.
Test typeTypical Naloxone detection window
Urineany: not tested / no interference
Saliva (Mouth Swab)any: n/a
Hair Folliclesn/a
Bloodany: n/a

False-positive notes

  • None — naloxone has no documented cross-reactivity with any standard drug immunoassay.

Remember: immunoassay screens produce artifacts; mass-spec confirmation and the MRO review are where legitimate explanations win.

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Medical disclaimer: DrugPanels provides educational information about laboratory drug testing and does not offer medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Detection windows are population ranges — individual results vary with metabolism, dose, frequency and health status. Never stop prescribed medication to pass a test without talking to your prescriber. Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links; if you order through them we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

People also ask

Does Naloxone Show up on a Drug Test?

No — Naloxone is absent from standard drug panels. Full guide →

Can Narcan Cause a Positive Drug Test?

Can Naloxone trigger a false positive? Cross-reactivity evidence, confirmation testing, and how to clear your name with the MRO. Full guide →

Naloxone Drug Test Guide: Panels, Detection Windows & More?

Complete Naloxone drug test guide: which panels detect it, urine/hair/saliva/blood detection windows, cutoff levels and prescription verification. Full guide →

How Long Does Naloxone Stay in Urine?

How long Naloxone stays detectable in urine — urine, hair, saliva & blood windows explained with cutoffs. Full guide →

Do prescriptions count against me?

No — verified prescriptions report as negative through the Medical Review Officer. Declare medications at collection and answer the follow-up call.

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Sources & further reading

  • SAMHSA — Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (cutoffs, MRO process)
  • DOT — 49 CFR Part 40 procedures for transportation workplace testing
  • Brahm NC et al., Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2008;83(1):66–76 — false-positive cross-reactivity reference
  • FDA — drug-of-abuse test device labeling (detection window conventions)