Author: Charles Frank

Overdose: Definition, Signs and Symptoms, Treatment

Most opioid overdoses are unintentional, but they can happen in a variety of ways and in any type of location. Regardless of how or where a person has overdosed, opioid overdose is a serious medical emergency that must be treated immediately. It’s important to know the signs of an opioid overdose and know what to do so you can potentially save a life. Narcan, an anti-overdoes medication that is widely available, can usually reverse these effects. Sometimes overdose patients have to be given multiple treatments of Narcan, depending on the amount of opioids in their system.

Stimulant overdose

You should seek medical help immediately if you have these symptoms or witness them in someone else and suspect they may have overdosed. The most obvious way to tell if these symptoms indicate overdose is if you know you have taken drugs or have seen someone else take drugs. Getting medical help quickly can make a big difference in the effectiveness of drug overdose treatment. It is not uncommon for opioid overdose patients to experience aspiration. This is when your body’s natural gag response is suppressed or eliminated by the opioid’s effects on the respiratory control center of the brain. As you become increasingly less conscious, the natural secretions in the back of the throat are not ejected or swallowed.

This can lead to breathing difficulties, lowered heart rate, seizures, and loss of consciousness. An overdose is when a person consumes “over” the recommended or typical dose of a substance. An overdose can be accidental (i.e., you were prescribed a dose of medication, and your body does not handle it as expected), or it may be intentional. Your heart rate slows as the opioid suppresses neurological signals. The oxygen level falls low enough that the heart starts having abnormal rhythms; the heart is not beating properly.

Risks and Causes of Overdose

This article will explain what an overdose is, the signs and symptoms of overdose to watch for in yourself and others, and what to do in case of an overdose. The best methods remove opportunities for accidental overdose or triggers for intentional overdose in the first place. If a patient overdosed on Oxycontin, which has a slow release in the gut, they can be revived from overdose only to overdose again.

At this point some overdose patients have sudden cardiac arrest. One of the telltale signs of opioid overdose is frothy fluid around the nose and mouth and fluid in the lungs, called pulmonary edema. Many substances can cause a state of sedation when abused due to how they interact with the central nervous system (CNS). Many systems are regulated by the CNS, which helps explain why overdoses of other substances, such as alcohol and opiates, can result in critical body systems failing. Even substances that we consume every day, like caffeine, can cause an overdose, although it usually requires so much that it is unlikely to occur.

  1. Inhaling or injecting drugs may cause them to get to your brain more quickly and also increases your chance of using an amount that can severely harm you.
  2. When in doubt about the correct dosage, consult with a doctor or pharmacist.
  3. Administer the naloxone and then stay with the person until emergency services arrive on the scene, or for at least four hours to monitor if their breathing has gone back to normal.
  4. If you aren’t sure if someone is overdosing, it’s best to act as if they are by seeking emergency help.

Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

Sometimes opioid overdose can include pulmonary edema (fluid leak into the airspaces of the lung). This is a noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, meaning it is not caused by fluid backup from a failing heart; doctors are still unsure of the exact mechanism behind this event. It is always better to err on the side of caution in the event of a possible overdose. Always call 911 if you think someone is experiencing an overdose. You could save that person’s life or prevent them from experiencing lasting negative symptoms. Alcohol overdose is generally referred to as alcohol poisoning in the medical community.

People most likely to witness an opioid overdose

Stimulants refer to a broad category of substances, with the most well-known being methamphetamines, cocaine, crack cocaine, and amphetamine-based ADHD medications (Adderall). Stimulants generally have a quick onset once they are consumed, and the effects usually wear off quickly as well. This pattern often results in continued use that grows over time, which can lead to overdose events.

Breathing delivers fresh oxygen to the body’s cells and eliminates carbon dioxide. Opioids can interfere with that life-sustaining process in multiple, dangerous ways. Cannabis, or marijuana, is a substance that many people find harmless to consume. Cannabis has been considered the world’s most-used illicit substance, though it has gained legality in some places. Sedative-specific medications are used to sedate the body to reduce stress and assist with sleep and are often quite powerful in their effect. Generally, these medications are most often seen in the benzodiazepines class (Xanax, Valium, Klonopin) and less commonly among barbiturates (phenobarbital).

Opioids include heroin, morphine, codeine, fentanyl, methadone, tramadol, and other similar substances. Due to their pharmacological effects, they can cause difficulties with breathing, and opioid overdose can lead to death. To prevent an overdose, follow a doctor’s directions for all prescription medications. With the right care and prevention strategies, it is possible to treat drug overdoses or prevent them altogether. Unfortunately, we continue to experience an epidemic of drug overdoses within the US and across the globe. Overdose-related deaths have increased by 31% from 2019 to 2020, highlighting an alarming spike in what are otherwise preventable deaths.