Drug Overdose Health Article

Prognosis

While many victims of drug overdose recover without long term effects, there can be serious consequences. Some drug overdoses cause the failure of major organs like the kidneys or liver, or failure of whole systems like the respiratory or circulatory systems. Patients who survive drug overdose may need kidney dialysis, kidney or liver transplant, or ongoing care as a result of heart failure, stroke, or coma. Death can occur in almost any drug overdose situation, particularly if treatment is not started immediately.

Prevention

To protect children from accidental drug overdose, all medications should be stored in containers with child resistant caps. All drugs should be out of sight and out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet. Prescription medications should be used according to directions and only by the person whose name is on the label. Threats of suicide need to be taken seriously and appropriate help sought for people with depression or other mental illness that may lead to suicide.

BOOKS

Clinical Manual of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. Paramus: Appleton-Century-Crofts and Fleschner Publishing Co.,1994.

Deglin, Judith Hopfer, and April Hazard Vallerand. Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses. 5th ed. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Co., 1996.

Ellerhorn, Matthew J. Ellerhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1996.

Haddad, Lester M. Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co.,1998.

"Poisoning." In The Merck Manual. 16th ed. Rahway: Merck, 1992.

PERIODICALS

"Recognition and Treatment of Serious Antipsychotic Drug Overdose." Drugs & Therapy Perspectives 11 (1998): 13-16.

OTHER

"Drug Overdose." American Institute of Preventative Medicine. <http://www.healthy.net>.

Graber, Mark A., and Rhea Allen."Emergency Medicine: Overdose and Toxindromes." University of Iowa Family Practice Handbook. <http://www.vh.org/Providers/ClinRef/FPHandbook/Chapter01/20-1.html>.

Altha Roberts Edgren

KEY TERMS

Gastric lavage—Also called a stomach pump. For this procedure, a flexible tube is inserted through the nose, down the throat, and into the stomach and the contents of the stomach are suctioned out. The inside of the stomach is rinsed with a saline (salt water) solution.

Intubation—A procedure where a tube is inserted through the mouth and into the trachea keep the airway open and to help the patient breathe.