Heroin overdose

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heroin overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of heroin.

Alternative Names:

Acetomorphine; Diacetylmorphine

Poisonous Ingredient:

heroin

Where Found:

heroin

Symptoms:

body as a whole
- muscle spasticity
respiratory
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- pinpoint pupils
- dry mouth
- tongue discoloration
skin
- bluish colored fingernails and lips
gastrointestinal
- spasms of the stomach and/or intestinal tract
- constipation
heart and blood vessels
- weak pulse
- low blood pressure
nervous system
- drowsiness
- disorientation
- coma
- delirium

Home Treatment:

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Call emergency services and Poison Control Center.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Bring a sample with you to the emergency room if available.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Use gastric lavage.
Administer activated charcoal.
Administer a laxative.
Give a counteracting drug (narcotic antagonist)--multiple doses if needed.
Administer intravenous fluids as needed.
Monitor breathing.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

If an antidote can be given, recovery from an acute overdose occurs within 24 to 48 hours.

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