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An overdose is when you take more than the normal or recommended amount of something, usually a drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful symptoms or death.
If you take too much of something on purpose, it is called an intentional or deliberate overdose.
If the overdose happens by mistake, it is called an accidental overdose. For example, a young child may accidentally take an adult's heart medication.
Your doctor may refer to an overdose as an ingestion. Ingestion means you swallowed something.
An overdose is not the same as a poisoning, although the effects can be the same. Poisoning occurs when someone or something (such as the environment) exposes you to dangerous chemicals, plants, or other harmful substance without your knowledge.
InformationAn overdose may be mild, moderate, or serious. Symptoms, treatment, and recovery depend on the specific drug involved. For more information see:
- Acetaminophen and codeine overdose
- Acetaminophen overdose
- Adrenergic bronchodilators overdose
- Aminophylline overdose
- Amitriptyline and perphenazine overdose
- Amitriptyline hydrochloride overdose
- Aspirin overdose
- Bacitracin overdose
- Bacitracin zinc overdose
- Beta blockers overdose
- Birth control pills overdose
- Brompheniramine overdose
- Butazolidin overdose
- Caffeine overdose
- Calcium antagonist overdose
- Calcium carbonate overdose
- Campho-Phenique overdose
- Cardiac glycoside overdose
- Castor oil overdose
- Chlordiazepoxide overdose
- Chlormerodrin overdose
- Chlorpromazine overdose
- Codeine overdose
- Compazine overdose
- Contac overdose
- Corticosteroids overdose
- Cyproheptadine overdose
- Desipramine hydrochloride overdose
- Dextromethorphan overdose
- Diazepam overdose
- Diclofenac sodium overdose
- Dilantin overdose
- Dimenhydrinate overdose
- Diphenhydramine hydrochloride overdose
- Estrogen overdose
- Ethanol overdose
- Eucalyptus oil overdose
- Eugenol oil overdose
- Fenoprofen calcium overdose
- Fluoride overdose
- Heroin overdose
- Hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdose
- Hydrogen peroxide overdose
- Hydromorphone overdose
- Hydroxyzine overdose
- Ibuprofen overdose
- Imipramine overdose
- Indomethacin overdose
- Iodine overdose
- Iron overdose
- Isopropanol overdose
- Ketoprofen overdose
- Laxative overdose
- Lithium overdose
- Lomotil overdose
- Meclofenamate overdose
- Menthol overdose
- Meperidine hydrochloride overdose
- Meprobamate overdose
- Merbromin overdose
- Methadone overdose
- Methanol overdose
- Methapyrilene hydrochloride overdose
- Methyl salicylate overdose
- Mineral oil overdose
- Morphine overdose
- Mouthwash overdose
- Multiple vitamin overdose
- Nitroglycerin overdose
- Oral hypoglycemics overdose
- Oxazepam overdose
- Pentazocine overdose
- Pentobarbital overdose
- Peppermint oil overdose
- Percocet overdose
- Percodan overdose
- Periactin overdose
- Phencyclidine overdose
- Phenindamine overdose
- Pheniramine overdose
- Phenobarbital overdose
- Phenothiazine overdose
- Phenylbutazone overdose
- Phenytoin overdose
- Piroxicam overdose
- Promethazine overdose
- Propoxyphene overdose
- Sassafras oil overdose
- Secobarbital overdose
- Sports cream overdose
- Sulindac overdose
- Thiazide overdose
- Thyroid preparation overdose
- Toothpaste overdose
- Trazodone hydrochloride overdose
- Vicks VapoRub overdose
- Zinc oxide overdose
The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. It is a free and confidential service. You should call if you have any questions about an overdose, poisoning, or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
See: Poison control center - emergency number
ReferencesKulig K. General approach to the poisoned patient. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006:chap 145.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoAn overdose is when you take more than the normal or recommended amount of something, usually a drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful symptoms or death.
If you take too much of something on purpose, it is called an intentional or deliberate overdose.
If the overdose happens by mistake, it is called an accidental overdose. For example, a young child may accidentally take an adult's heart medication.
Your doctor may refer to an overdose as an ingestion. Ingestion means you swallowed something.
An overdose is not the same as a poisoning, although the effects can be the same. Poisoning occurs when someone or something (such as the environment) exposes you to dangerous chemicals, plants, or other harmful substance without your knowledge.
InformationAn overdose may be mild, moderate, or serious. Symptoms, treatment, and recovery depend on the specific drug involved. For more information see:
- Acetaminophen and codeine overdose
- Acetaminophen overdose
- Adrenergic bronchodilators overdose
- Aminophylline overdose
- Amitriptyline and perphenazine overdose
- Amitriptyline hydrochloride overdose
- Aspirin overdose
- Bacitracin overdose
- Bacitracin zinc overdose
- Beta blockers overdose
- Birth control pills overdose
- Brompheniramine overdose
- Butazolidin overdose
- Caffeine overdose
- Calcium antagonist overdose
- Calcium carbonate overdose
- Campho-Phenique overdose
- Cardiac glycoside overdose
- Castor oil overdose
- Chlordiazepoxide overdose
- Chlormerodrin overdose
- Chlorpromazine overdose
- Codeine overdose
- Compazine overdose
- Contac overdose
- Corticosteroids overdose
- Cyproheptadine overdose
- Desipramine hydrochloride overdose
- Dextromethorphan overdose
- Diazepam overdose
- Diclofenac sodium overdose
- Dilantin overdose
- Dimenhydrinate overdose
- Diphenhydramine hydrochloride overdose
- Estrogen overdose
- Ethanol overdose
- Eucalyptus oil overdose
- Eugenol oil overdose
- Fenoprofen calcium overdose
- Fluoride overdose
- Heroin overdose
- Hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdose
- Hydrogen peroxide overdose
- Hydromorphone overdose
- Hydroxyzine overdose
- Ibuprofen overdose
- Imipramine overdose
- Indomethacin overdose
- Iodine overdose
- Iron overdose
- Isopropanol overdose
- Ketoprofen overdose
- Laxative overdose
- Lithium overdose
- Lomotil overdose
- Meclofenamate overdose
- Menthol overdose
- Meperidine hydrochloride overdose
- Meprobamate overdose
- Merbromin overdose
- Methadone overdose
- Methanol overdose
- Methapyrilene hydrochloride overdose
- Methyl salicylate overdose
- Mineral oil overdose
- Morphine overdose
- Mouthwash overdose
- Multiple vitamin overdose
- Nitroglycerin overdose
- Oral hypoglycemics overdose
- Oxazepam overdose
- Pentazocine overdose
- Pentobarbital overdose
- Peppermint oil overdose
- Percocet overdose
- Percodan overdose
- Periactin overdose
- Phencyclidine overdose
- Phenindamine overdose
- Pheniramine overdose
- Phenobarbital overdose
- Phenothiazine overdose
- Phenylbutazone overdose
- Phenytoin overdose
- Piroxicam overdose
- Promethazine overdose
- Propoxyphene overdose
- Sassafras oil overdose
- Secobarbital overdose
- Sports cream overdose
- Sulindac overdose
- Thiazide overdose
- Thyroid preparation overdose
- Toothpaste overdose
- Trazodone hydrochloride overdose
- Vicks VapoRub overdose
- Zinc oxide overdose
The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. It is a free and confidential service. You should call if you have any questions about an overdose, poisoning, or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
See: Poison control center - emergency number
ReferencesKulig K. General approach to the poisoned patient. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006:chap 145.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 02/02/2011
Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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Can you overdose on cinnamon?
no you can not overdose on cinnamon
What happened if you overdose on vitamins for multiple sclerosis?
It doesn't matter why you're taking the vitamins, an overdose is an overdose. What happens depends on which specific vitamin you overdose on.
Can you overdose on glucose?
what are the effects of overdose glucose and what are the treaments
How one can identify a drug overdose?
how one can identify overdose
When did Total Overdose happen?
Total Overdose happened in 2005.
What is the antidote for inhalant overdose?
There is no antidote or medications for inhalant overdose.
What are the symptoms and treatment of belladonna overdose?
What are the symptoms of an overdose of Belladonna.
What is the adverse effect of menstrogen overdose?
the effect of menstrogen overdose on a pregnancy
Is taking thirteen morphine pills a overdose?
At once? Absolutely that is an overdose.
What does the term overdose imply?
overdose implies an intentional toxic exposure.
Can you get an overdose of body building steroids?
Yes you certainly can overdose on steroids.
What is the abbreviation for overdose?
In medicine, overdose is abbreviated simply as O.D. or OD.
