Drug Overdose

When someone is suspected of taking more medication than they should have, it is an emergency: a medication overdose is the harm that occurs when the amount of a drug in the body exceeds what it can tolerate, whether accidentally or intentionally.

Warning signs: extreme drowsiness or difficulty waking up, confusion, nausea or vomiting, slow or irregular breathing, and heart rhythm disturbances.

When to seek care? With any suspected overdose, especially in children or older adults, immediate care is necessary. The emergency physician handles these acute cases, with support from the internist and the general practitioner, and the pediatrician when it involves children.

Keep medications in a safe place and, in a situation like this, seek medical help without delay.