How is overdose treated?

Answer 1

The treatment of barbiturate abuse or overdose is generally supportive. The amount of support required depends on the person's symptoms. If the patient is drowsy but awake and can swallow and breathe without difficulty, the treatment can be as simple as monitoring the patient closely. If the patient is not breathing, it may involve mechanical ventilation until the drug has worn off.

Supportive treatment often includes the following:

• Activated charcoal may be given via nasogastric tube.

• Intravenous administration of saline, naloxone, thiamine, and/or glucose.

• NaHCO3 to alkalize the urine to increase rate of excretion

• Observation in the Emergency Department for a number of hours or admission to the hospital for several days of observation symptoms are severe.

• Advise the patient about drug misuse or refer for psychiatric consult.

Answer 2

Because the risk for seizures and other severe complications is high, barbiturate withdrawal should be monitored in a hospital setting.

I agree!! And I add: Thirty years ago right now, my BFF went through it. She endured: total sleeplessness for days on end, followed by weeks averaging 2 hours of sleep a night. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, violent convulsions, delirium, uncontrollable shaking, hallucinations, inability to urinate (had to be catheterized), trouble breathing, inability to read or write (she is a writer by trade!), inability to speak or put sentences together, inability to sit still, and extreme weight loss. To be blunt, barbiturate withdrawal can kill you. If you are addicted to barbiturates, you should seek help from your local hospital ED in getting into a Rehab facility. Or - if, like my friend, you're taking it medically and became accidentally addicted - have your prescribing physician take you down very slowly. If you were taking it for a seizure disorder, you probably need to begin another anti-epileptic drug. My friend's physician took her off cold-turkey and her seizures nearly killed her. But she got through it, and got another doctor. I was a kid then, but I'll never forget it. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Overdose is treated with the drug naloxone (ReVia). Naloxone blocks and reverses the effects of narcotics. When given intravenously it is effective within one to two minutes.