Opioids are strong pain medicines. Examples include hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, and morphine. Heroin is an example of an illegal opioid. Taking too much of any opioid is called an overdose. When this happens, you get very sleepy. Your breathing slows down or stops. This can cause death.
Taking too much of an opioid can cause symptoms such as trouble breathing, low blood pressure, or a low heart rate. Some people have pinpoint pupils. An opioid overdose can also lead to a coma or death.
An opioid overdose is a medical emergency. Paramedics may give naloxone right away based on your symptoms. This medicine reverses the effects of an overdose. At the hospital, your doctor will do an exam. You may need tests, such as a blood test or an ECG, to confirm an overdose and look for problems.
The doctor may give you a medicine called naloxone to help reverse the effects of the opioid. You may need fluids and oxygen to help you breathe. In severe cases, CPR may be done.
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