Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Drug Overdoses
Number of Conditions: 4
Opioid toxicity (e.g., heroin, fentanyl)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Toxicology and Overdose
Sub-category: Drug Overdoses
Symptoms:
respiratory depression; pinpoint pupils; unconsciousness; hypotension; cyanosis; bradycardia
Root Cause:
Opioids bind excessively to mu-opioid receptors, leading to respiratory and central nervous system depression.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Based on clinical history, physical examination, and response to naloxone. Supporting tests include toxicology screens and arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis for respiratory acidosis.
Treatment:
Immediate administration of naloxone (opioid antagonist), airway management, oxygen supplementation, and supportive care in a monitored setting.
Medications:
Naloxone , an opioid antagonist, reverses respiratory and CNS depression by displacing opioids from receptors.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
High prevalence in areas with widespread opioid use; opioid-related deaths account for a significant proportion of drug overdose fatalities globally.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Substance use disorder, high-dose opioid prescriptions, concurrent sedative use, mental health disorders, and lack of access to treatment or naloxone.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis is good if treated promptly with naloxone; delays in treatment can lead to hypoxic brain injury or death.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypoxic brain injury, aspiration pneumonia, rhabdomyolysis, and death.
Acetaminophen overdose
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Toxicology and Overdose
Sub-category: Drug Overdoses
Symptoms:
nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain; confusion; jaundice (late stage); elevated liver enzymes
Root Cause:
Excessive acetaminophen overwhelms the liver's ability to conjugate and detoxify NAPQI (toxic metabolite), causing hepatocellular damage.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
History of overdose, serum acetaminophen levels, and liver function tests (LFTs); use of the Rumack-Matthew nomogram for risk assessment.
Treatment:
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration (oral or IV) to replenish glutathione, activated charcoal if within 1-2 hours of ingestion, and supportive care.
Medications:
N-acetylcysteine (antidote for acetaminophen toxicity) and activated charcoal (gastric decontaminant).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Acetaminophen toxicity is one of the most common causes of drug overdoses globally and a leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic acetaminophen use, concurrent alcohol consumption, pre-existing liver disease, and taking higher-than-recommended doses.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early treatment; delayed treatment increases the risk of liver failure, necessitating a liver transplant.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Acute liver failure, metabolic acidosis, encephalopathy, and death.
Benzodiazepine overdose
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Toxicology and Overdose
Sub-category: Drug Overdoses
Symptoms:
drowsiness; slurred speech; confusion; hypotension; respiratory depression (rare if taken alone); ataxia
Root Cause:
Excessive potentiation of GABA-A receptors leads to central nervous system depression.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
History of overdose, clinical presentation, and urine toxicology testing.
Treatment:
Supportive care (airway management, IV fluids), flumazenil (benzodiazepine receptor antagonist) in selective cases, and monitoring for respiratory depression.
Medications:
Flumazenil , a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, used cautiously due to the risk of seizures in chronic users.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common due to the widespread prescription and misuse of benzodiazepines; often co-ingested with other substances like alcohol or opioids.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Polypharmacy, substance use disorder, underlying mental health issues, and unsupervised access to medications.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good if treated promptly; co-ingestion with other CNS depressants worsens outcomes.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Respiratory failure, coma, aspiration pneumonia, and death.
Stimulant toxicity (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Toxicology and Overdose
Sub-category: Drug Overdoses
Symptoms:
tachycardia; hypertension; agitation; seizures; chest pain; hyperthermia
Root Cause:
Excessive stimulation of the central and sympathetic nervous systems due to increased dopamine and norepinephrine levels.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical examination, urine toxicology, and supporting tests like ECG and serum chemistry.
Treatment:
Benzodiazepines for sedation and seizure control, cooling measures for hyperthermia, IV fluids, and supportive care for cardiovascular effects.
Medications:
Benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam or diazepam ) for agitation and seizures; beta-blockers are avoided due to unopposed alpha-adrenergic stimulation.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Cocaine and methamphetamine toxicity is prevalent among recreational users; associated with a high burden of emergency visits.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Recreational drug use, poly-drug abuse, and underlying cardiovascular conditions.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; mild cases resolve with supportive care, but severe cases with complications like stroke or cardiac arrest can be fatal.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Stroke, myocardial infarction, rhabdomyolysis, hyperthermia, and sudden death.