A person who has overdosed on fentanyl may be very sleepy or pass out (lose consciousness). You may notice other signs such as:
An overdose is an emergency. Call for help right away.
A doctor may give you a medicine called naloxone to help reverse the effects of fentanyl. You may need fluids and oxygen to help you breathe. In severe cases, CPR may be done. You may need more treatment if the overdose caused other problems.
If you or someone you're close to uses opioids or street drugs, these ideas may help protect them.
A fentanyl overdose is a medical emergency. A paramedic will check for signs of overdose, such as pinpoint pupils and shallow breathing. At the hospital after treatment, a doctor will do an exam. Other tests may be done to confirm an overdose and look for problems.
Fentanyl is fast-acting and very strong. It's also fairly cheap and easy to make. That's why it's often used as a filler in fake prescription pills or street drugs. If you use street drugs or fake pills, you may take fentanyl without knowing it. This could quickly lead to a deadly overdose.
Fentanyl is a powerful pain medicine made in a lab (synthetic opioid). Doctors may prescribe it to treat severe pain. Illegal fentanyl is often mixed into street drugs like heroin, cocaine, and meth. Or it may be added to fake pills made to look like prescription medicines.
Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and up to 100 times stronger than morphine. This means that even a small amount can lead to an overdose, which could be deadly. Illegal fentanyl has added to the rise in overdose deaths in the U.S.
Illegal fentanyl often comes as a powder or pressed into a pill. It can also be a liquid. An overdose can occur if you swallow, snort, or inject fentanyl. You can't overdose just by touching fentanyl.
©2011-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated