Zimhi Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Zimhi (naloxone) is a lifesaving medication that can help someone experiencing an opioid overdose. It can reverse the severe effects of an overdose, such as difficulty breathing, in just a few minutes.

Here, we’ll talk about the correct Zimhi dosage for adults and children and cover common questions about this important medication.

If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about resources in your area.

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What’s the typical Zimhi dosage for adults and children?

Zimhi is an auto-injector (a type of injection device). It comes as a 5 mg prefilled syringe. One syringe contains a single dose (5 mg). This means that each syringe is only meant to be used one time.

Zimhi can be injected into the outer thigh — either the muscle (intramuscularly) or beneath the skin (subcutaneously). You can give the injection through clothing if needed.

Zimhi is meant to be administered by people who are at least 12 years old. But children of any age can receive it, and the dose is the same. If the child receiving Zimhi is less than 1 year old, you should pinch their thigh at the injection site to make sure they get the full dose.

If you think you’ve witnessed an opioid overdose, give a dose of Zimhi right away. Then call 911 and request emergency help. The person experiencing the overdose will still need medical care after Zimhi is administered. You can give a repeat dose of Zimhi every 2 to 3 minutes until the person becomes responsive or medical help arrives.

Good to know: Naloxone is available in many forms, including Narcan nasal spray and injection. Narcan nasal spray is even available over the counter. Check out our other GoodRx article for more information on Narcan dosages.

How many doses of Zimhi is considered safe?

You can administer a dose of Zimhi every 2 to 3 minutes until the person with a suspected overdose becomes responsive, starts breathing again, or emergency personnel arrive. There’s no such thing as administering too many Zimhi doses.

However, the person receiving Zimhi may experience opioid withdrawal after receiving 1 or more doses. This is especially true if the person is dependent on opioids, has an opioid use disorder, or has a large amount of opioids in their system. Symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, shakiness, and a faster heartbeat. But even though opioid withdrawal is uncomfortable, it isn’t life-threatening. So don’t be afraid to administer Zimhi or another naloxone product if you suspect an opioid overdose.

What should you do after administering Zimhi?

After administering Zimhi or another naloxone product, call 911 immediately and explain the situation to the 911 dispatcher. They’ll likely send medical personnel to help as fast as possible. Anyone having an overdose needs emergency care, even if they’ve received Zimhi.

You can provide a dose of Zimhi every 2 to 3 minutes until the person having an overdose becomes responsive. In the meantime, you may need to start CPR if the person isn’t breathing. For a basic guide on performing CPR, refer to our GoodRx guide on CPR.

Good to know: Zimhi only lasts in the body for 30 to 90 minutes. So Zimhi may wear off more quickly than many opioids. If Zimhi works at first, but the person receiving it becomes unresponsive again, administer repeat doses every 2 to 3 minutes, as necessary.

What if you’re not sure you’re witnessing an opioid overdose?

Even if you're not 100% sure someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, you can administer Zimhi if you suspect one. Even if someone hasn’t taken opioids, Zimhi isn't harmful to the person receiving it. If an opioid overdose isn’t occurring, Zimhi just won’t have any effect. Zimhi doesn’t work for other types of drug overdoses.

If you’ve administered Zimhi multiple times and it isn’t working, it’s possible that the person isn't experiencing an opioid overdose. However, if the person remains unresponsive, it’s best to continue administering Zimhi and initiate CPR until medical help arrives.

How to save on Zimhi

Zimhi is only available as a brand-name medication. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to receive Zimhi for free using a copay savings card from the manufacturer.

Additionally, you may consider other naloxone products. Generic Narcan nasal spray at certain pharmacies is $37.65 with a free GoodRx discount. And as mentioned above, it’s available over the counter as well.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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