Cocaine overdose can occur at any time. Many people drink alcohol when they use cocaine, which can increase this risk. Additionally, cocaine potency varies dramatically.
Call immediately if you suspect someone is overdosing on cocaine. Try to position them safely in a side-lying position. You can also apply a cold towel to their forehead and wrists to help regulate body temperature.
Call if you suspect someone is overdosing on meth. Opioid overdoses have become increasingly common in recent years. Opioid overdose symptoms include:. Call immediately if you think someone is overdosing on opioids. If you have naloxone available, administer it. Naloxone can help reverse opioid overdose effects.
Try to keep the person awake and conscious. Lay them on their side to avoid the risk of choking. If you suspect someone is overdosing on any drug, call immediately. The faster someone gets help, the more likely they are to survive. Admit you to hospital for further treatment. Self-care after treatment with activated charcoal If you were given charcoal in hospital, you will pass it with your next bowel motion in a day or two.
Home care suggestions include: Follow all instructions given by the doctor. Drink plenty of water to avoid constipation. Be aware that charcoal could interfere with the effectiveness of other medications you may be taking. For example, if you are taking the oral contraceptive pill, you will need to use another method of contraception until your next period.
If you are unsure about how charcoal may affect your other medications and what to do about it, ask your doctor. Reasons for overdose Taking an overdose may be: Accidental — if a person takes the wrong substance or combination of substances in the wrong amount or at the wrong time without knowing that it could cause them harm. Intentional — a person takes an overdose to inflict self-harm which may be a cry for help or a suicide attempt. Overdose risk factors People of any age may overdose.
Your risk factors for drug-related harm is increased when: More than one substance is taken at the same time. The body is not used to taking a certain substance. Preventing overdose Some ways to avoid overdose include: Practise medicine safety. Always read medication labels carefully. Take prescription medications only as directed. Keep all medications in their original packaging. Avoid drugs of any kind unless advised by a doctor.
Always tell your doctor or other health professional if you have had an overdose before. Do not keep medications you no longer need. Return them to the pharmacist. Keep all medicines, alcohol, drugs and poisons locked away in a safe secure place and out of reach of children. Be careful when taking different substances including alcohol at the same time. They can interact negatively and increase your risk of overdose.
Drug use precautions The best way to avoid overdose from illegal drugs is not to use them. If using drugs from an unknown source or of unknown purity, have a smaller amount at first.
If you have any unexpected or delayed reaction to a drug, do not take more. Try to avoid using alone — let someone know where you are and what you are doing, or have a friend with you. Check any recent drug alerts if you live in Victoria. Remember, other false or contaminated drug products may be circulating, even if no warning has been issued about them.
Where to get help In an emergency, always call triple zero Emergency department of your nearest hospital Victorian Poisons Information Centre Tel. Free overdose training and naloxone from a health service is also available Harm Reduction Victoria Tel.
Naloxone , , Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Management of overdose , Department of Health, Australian Government. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all drugs. Related information. Find out what to do in the case of addiction, overdose or withdrawal and places to get help. An overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Always call triple zero if you know or think that someone has had an overdose. Read more on Better Health Channel website.
Find out when naloxone should be given to a person, who should give it and how it is given. Learn where to go for help and support if you need it. Read more on Department of Health website. An overdose happens when a toxic amount of a drug or a combination of drugs causes a severe adverse reaction.
This can happen because too much is taken or because different drugs are taken at the same time. Combining drugs increases the chances of overdose. No medications are completely safe. The number of Australians overdosing on pharmaceutical drugs has now overtaken the road toll, the majority of these are accidental. Prescription medications are also causing many unnecessary side effects — including addiction — in an increasing number of Australians.
Fentanyl is commonly used for pain management in clinical settings. It is now showing up, however, in some illicit drugs, including other opioids, around the world - in particular North America and Canada, where it has been found in samples of drugs, such as heroin.
The rescheduling of pharmaceuticals that include codeine will tighten access to these drugs from 1 February. This makes now a timely moment to consider some of the wider measures that GPs can take to improve patient outcomes and avoid the over-prescription of some medications.
Naloxone nasal spray is a fast-acting opioid antagonist now PBS-listed for use in the community. Find out more. The Australian Government is investing in a pilot program to make naloxone available free to people who may experience, or witness, an opioid overdose. Opioids have made headlines recently with a number of cities and counties across North America taking legal action against drugmakers and distributors in federal courts for the widespread damages caused by opioid addiction.
Read more on Ausmed Education website. Opioid medicines for chronic pain continue to pose a challenge in primary health care. Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering. There is a total of 5 error s on this form, details are below. Please enter your name Please enter your email Your email is invalid. Please check and try again Please enter recipient's email Recipient's email is invalid.
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