Hydrocodone/oxycodone overdose
Alternate Names : Overdose - hydrocodone, Overdose - oxycodone, Vicodin overdose, Percocet overdose, Percodan overdose, MSContin overdose, OxyContin overdose
Definition
Hydrocodone and oxycodone are drugs that are mostly used to treat extreme pain. Hydrocodone/oxycodone overdose occurs when someone intentionally or accidentally take too much medicine containing these ingredients. A person may accidentally take too much of the medicine because they are not getting pain relief from their normal doses. There are several reasons why a person may intentionally take too much of this medication. It may be done to try to hurt oneself or to “get high” or intoxicated. See also: Overdose This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Poisonous Ingredient
Hydrocodone and oxycodone belong to a class of narcotic medications called opiates. These medications are man-made versions of the natural compounds found in opium.
Where Found
Hydrocodone and oxycodone are usually found in prescription painkillers. The most common painkillers that include these two ingredients are:
- OxyContin
- Percocet
- Percodan
- Vicodin
- Vicodin ES
These medicines may also be combined with a non-narcotic medicine, acetaminophen (Tylenol). See also: Acetaminophen overdose
Symptoms & Signs
When you take the correct or prescribed dose of these medicines, side effects may occur. In addition to relieving pain, you may feel drowsy, confused and in a daze, constipated, and possibly nauseous. When you take too much of these medications however, symptoms become much more serious. Symptoms include: - Extreme sleepiness
- Breathing problems
- Small pupils -- the black circle in the colored part of your eye
The first thing that will likely occur is that you will become extremely sleepy. Depending on how much you take, this can range from struggling to stay awake to being completely unconscious -- family members may shake you very hard without waking you up. The most dangerous complication of this type of overdose is the effect on your breathing. A hydrocodone/oxycodone overdose can cause your breathing to slow down, become more shallow, and possibly stop, depending on how much medication you have taken. (See: Breathing - slow or stopped) If someone looked at your eyes, they would likely see that your pupils were extremely small. Doctors call this “pinpoint pupils” -- this sign is often used to help identify a hydrocodone/oxycodone overdose.
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