FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about RiVive®
WHAT IS RIVIVE?
RiVive is a 3 mg naloxone HCl nasal spray which is FDA approved as an over-the-counter (OTC) emergency treatment of opioid overdose. It is used to “revive” someone during an overdose from many prescription pain medications or street drugs. This medicine can save a life.1
HOW DOES RIVIVE WORK?
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE?
Recognizing the signs of opioid overdose can save a life. Here are some things to look for:
- Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
- Falling asleep or losing consciousness
- Slow, weak, or no breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Limp body
- Cold and/or clammy skin
- Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)3
A person does not need to be breathing for RiVive to work. RiVive is sprayed into the nose and the naloxone is absorbed there and does not need to be inhaled to work.
HOW DO YOU ADMINISTER RIVIVE?
Warning: when using this product, some people may experience symptoms when they wake up such as shaking, sweating, nausea, or feeling irritable.
For more information on Drug Facts, call toll free (888) 412-7454.
WILL RIVIVE WORK IF SOMEONE IS NOT BREATHING?
A person does not need to be breathing for RiVive to work. RiVive is sprayed into the nose and the naloxone is absorbed there and does not need to be inhaled to work.
CAN YOU REUSE A RIVIVE NASAL SPRAYER?
No. Each device sprays 1 time only.1
CAN YOU OVERDOSE ON RIVIVE?
No, you cannot overdose on naloxone. Studies have shown that lower dose naloxone is less likely to cause precipitated withdrawal, which is why we developed 3 mg RiVive.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS AND WARNINGS WHEN USING RIVIVE?
When using this product, some people may experience symptoms when they wake up, such as shaking, sweating, nausea, or feeling irritable. This is to be expected.1
DO YOU NEED A PRESCRIPTION FOR RIVIVE?
WHERE CAN YOU BUY RIVIVE?
- From harm reduction distributor Remedy Alliance/For The People (RA). We work in partnership with RA to make RiVive available to all harm reduction programs. Any group who has purchased or plans on purchasing RiVive through RA is encouraged to continue working with them. The price is the same, and RA also offers intramuscular product (IM). Please Email: info@remedyallianceftp.org.
- From drug wholesale distributors including Cardinal Health, Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), and McKesson Med-Surg:
- Cardinal Health CIN#: 5911292.
- Cencora AB 8 Digit SAP Number: 10287632.
- McKesson ECONO Number: 2931160.
- McKesson Med-Surg MMS Item Number: 1252500.
- Through HRT’s Website Order Portal. Please apply for a customer account to place an order online at: https://www.harmreductiontherapeutics.org/registration/.
- Direct through HRT. Please Email: sales@harmreductiontherapeutics.org.
HOW SHOULD YOU STORE RIVIVE?
Store RiVive at 68° to 77° F (20° to 25° C). Do not refrigerate. Avoid excessive heat above 104° F (40° C).1
HOW MUCH DOES RIVIVE COST?
Harm Reduction Therapeutics is a 501(c)(3) non-profit pharmaceutical company that sells RiVive at its manufacturing cost of $36 per twin pack carton, and we do not make a profit on any cartons sold. Our mission is to save lives that would otherwise be lost to opioid overdose, and we are sustained by generous charitable contributions of those who share our mission.
HOW DID HARM REDUCTION THERAPEUTICS, INC. (HRT) COME UP WITH THE PRICE FOR RIVIVE?
$36 per RiVive twin pack carton is our manufacturing cost, which is lower than many other naloxone nasal sprays. The $36 price covers the hard costs (ingredients, nasal spray devices, vials) and production, packaging, testing and transportation costs, which comprise ~92% of the overall cost of RiVive, plus HRT’s virtual organization’s minimal costs to coordinate manufacturing and distribution, meet ongoing regulatory obligations, and run the nonprofit (~8%)
Availability of RiVive has both compelled our for-profit competitors to finally make their products available OTC, and has already dramatically driven down prices for other naloxone nasal sprays. As we generate more revenue from RiVive, we’ll be able to either decrease our price or distribute more RiVive free of charge.
WHY DID HRT FORMULATE RIVIVE AS A 3 MG NALOXONE PRODUCT?
Because our work is guided by harm reduction principles. 3 milligrams of intranasal naloxone is strong enough to save lives, while minimizing the unintended consequences of overdose reversal, like precipitated withdrawal. It also follows general medical industry guidelines that patients should take the lowest dose available as the first line of defense when taking any type of medication. For additional information click HERE.
WHY DOES HRT NEED CHARITABLE FUNDING?
Operating as a 501(c)(3) has its challenges. We don’t fit traditional investor or financial institution models to secure funding. Our non-profit model is reliant on charitable donations to help community-based harm reduction organizations save lives. If you’d like to help HRT save lives that would have otherwise been lost to opioid overdose, please Email: financialsupport@harmreductiontherapeutics.org.
WHAT IS HRT’S HISTORY WITH PURDUE PHARMA?
Harm Reduction Therapeutics, Inc. (HRT) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit pharmaceutical company whose single mission is to prevent opioid overdose deaths by making free of charge or low-cost over-the-counter naloxone available to everyone.
HRT’s development of RiVive, its FDA-approved over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray (3mg), has been solely funded by charitable contributions. HRT is a non-stock, non-profit company, and no individual or for-profit company receives royalties, revenues, or other profits associated with RiVive.
A portion of HRT’s funding came from Purdue Pharma’s public health initiative, and later from the bankruptcy estate of Purdue Pharma. These funds were approved by the bankruptcy court administering Purdue Pharma’s chapter 11 proceedings, with the support of Purdue’s creditors including state and local governments and opioid victims.
Neither Purdue nor any of its employees, shareholders, or creditors receives any compensation for the development or distribution of RiVive. Moreover, Purdue plays no role in the operations, manufacturing, or sales of RiVive, nor the governance of HRT. No Purdue employee or shareholder has had any role on HRT’s independent board of directors, all of whom serve without pay or any other form of compensation.
HOW CAN YOU CONTACT HARM REDUCTION THERAPEUTICS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RIVIVE?
HOW DO YOU REPORT AN ADVERSE EVENT?
Please contact: customercare@harmreductiontherapeutics.org.
WARNING:
When using this product, some people may experience symptoms when they wake up such as shaking, sweating, nausea, or feeling irritable.
For more information on Drug Facts, call toll free (888) 412-7454.