What is the medical term for overdose?

A drug overdose (overdose or OD) is the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended. Typically it is used for cases when a risk to health will potentially result.

What is the legal definition of overdose?

(e) For the purposes of this section, “drug-related overdose” means an acute medical condition that is the result of the ingestion or use by an individual of one or more controlled substances or one or more controlled substances in combination with alcohol, in quantities that are excessive for that individual that may …

What is an example of an overdose?

Exposure to chemicals, plants, and other toxic substances that can cause harm are called poisonings. The higher the dose or the longer the exposure, the worse the poisoning. Two examples are carbon monoxide poisoning and mushroom poisoning. People respond differently to a drug overdose.

What class is an overdose?

Article at a Glance: An overdose occurs when the body becomes overwhelmed by too much of a drug and cannot transmit signals from the brain to the rest of the body. It takes different amounts of a drug for different people to overdose. Signs of an overdose are slow breathing, blue lips and nails, and being very sleepy.

What do hospitals do when you overdose?

When they are taken in for an overdose, they will be administered with Narcan (naloxone), a life-saving injectable medication that reverses the effects of overdose medication. They “wake up” and begin breathing again almost immediately.

How many Paracetamols is lethal?

If untreated, an overdose of 10–15 g (20–30 tablets) can result in fatal hepatotoxicity. In the mid-1990s, there were ∼200 deaths each year in England and Wales from paracetamol alone.

What do you do when someone is having an overdose?

The best thing to do is call 911. If someone is overdosing on opioids, administering naloxone can save their life. When an overdose is happening, make sure the person who is overdosing stops using drugs or alcohol immediately. Call 911 and follow the instructions the 911 operator gives you.

Who is at risk of overdose?

Risk factors for opioid misuse or addiction include past or current substance abuse, untreated psychiatric disorders, younger age, and social or family environments that encourage misuse. Opioid mortality prevalence is higher in people who are middle aged and have substance abuse and psychiatric comorbidities.

Can doctors tell if you overdose?

Your doctor, your local poison center, or the emergency department of your local hospital may be able to help determine the seriousness of a suspected drug overdose. Development of any symptoms after drug overdose requires immediate and accurate information about the specific name of the drug, the amount of the drug …

What happens if you accidentally take 4 Paracetamols?

If the glutathione runs out, then the toxic substances build up and damage liver cells. An adult body can produce enough glutathione to safely clear 4 grams of paracetamol every 24 hours which is why it is the recommended dose. Taking more than this amount risks permanent and even fatal liver damage.

How many pills is too much?

Taking more than five medications is called polypharmacy. The risk of harmful effects, drug interactions and hospitalizations increase when you take more medications.

What happens if you overdose?

With substances like alcohol, an overdose can cause the respiratory system to shut down and thereby prevent you from breathing. This is called central respiratory depression. This suppression of the respiratory system can kill you or cause organ and brain damage.

What happens during an overdose?

During an overdose, what happens to the body is that the brain becomes overwhelmed by a dangerous dose of poisonous chemicals, which then causes the brain to neglect necessary functions such as breathing. The most common cause of death during an overdose is respiratory failure.

What can cause drug overdose?

The cause of a drug overdose is either by accidental overuse or by intentional misuse. Accidental overdoses result from either a young child or an adult with impaired mental abilities swallowing a medication left within their grasp.

What is the definition of overdose?

Definition of overdose. (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : too great a dose (as of a therapeutic agent) also : a lethal or toxic amount (as of a drug)