Overdose
About Overdose
An accidental or intentional taking of too much medication or chemical. The symptoms experienced depend on the substance ingested and can range from nausea and vomiting to death.Symptoms
Depends on the medication taken. Symptoms may include: confusion, vomiting, palpitations, breathing problems, fainting, seizures, agitation, coma, or death.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be performed. A doctor can get clues about drug overdose from checking the alertness and behavior of a patient, the appearance of the pupils, the tone of muscles, mouth dryness and skin appearance. Blood tests can detect some drugs such as aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol). A urine toxicology screen detects a variety of drugs. An interview with a psychiatrist may be important, if the overdose was taken on purpose.Common tests: BHCG, Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), EKG.
Conventional treatment summary
Hospital care is provided until enough of the drug has been cleared from the system to make a patient safe. Depending on the substance or drug that was taken, it may be possible to get some of the drug out of the body by `pumping the stomach.` This actually means emptying stomach contents through a tube down the throat. Some drugs can be filtered out of the blood using `dialysis.` This can be done in an intensive care unit (ICU). If breathing and alertness is not normal, it may be necessary for a person to be intubated (have a breathing tube inserted) to keep the airway open. Breathing is then assisted by a mechanical ventilator. A few medications have `antidotes,` which are substances that can neutralize a drug. For more information and help call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222.Medical specialties
Medical Toxicology
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Overdose.