Drug overdose
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Follow the links below to find trusted information about drug overdose.
Last reviewed: May 2018
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Medicine or Drug Overdose | myVMC
A drug overdose occurs after a person consumes too much of a drug, medication or poison. Overdose can occur accidentally when a person inadvertently takes the incorrect medication or dose, or when they intentionally misuse drugs to get high or with the intention of self-harming (e.g. committing suicide).
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Drug overdose - Better Health Channel
Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs and some herbal remedies can all cause damage if an overdose is taken.
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ADF - Insights - An overdose happens when a toxic amount of a drug or a combination of drugs causes a severe adverse reaction.
Many people think this is the result of consuming too much of a drug. This is often the case. Combining drugs, and alcohol increases chances of overdosing..
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Fentanyl Side Effects, Overdose & Withdrawal | Your Room
Fentanyl is a prescription drug which can come with many short and long term side effects. Find out what to do in the case of overdose or withdrawal.
Read more on NSW Health website
GHB Effects, Overdose & Poisoning | Your Room
GHB comes with many short and long term side effects. Find out what to do in the case of overdose or poisoning and places to get help.
Read more on Department of Health website
GHB Effects, Overdose & Poisoning | Your Room
GHB comes with many short and long term side effects. Find out what to do in the case of overdose or poisoning and places to get help.
Read more on NSW Health website
6 lifesaving tips when taking medication - ADF - Alcohol & Drug Foundation
No medications are completely safe. The number of Australians overdosing on pharmaceutical drugs has now overtaken the road toll..
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Effects of GHB - fantasy
Using GHB carries a high risk of overdose due to the small difference between the amount required to produce a `high` and that which causes overdose.
Read more on myDr website
Things to ask your GP - ADF - Alcohol & Drug Foundation
We have a problem in Australia with the over prescription of some medications, causing many of us unnecessary side effects including addiction and overdose
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Cocaine: tolerance and dependence - myDr.com.au
After prolonged use, cocaine is highly addictive and with regular use, larger amounts of cocaine are needed to get the same effect.
Read more on myDr website
Top results
Aerosolized prostacyclin for acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) | Cochrane
The clinical research is insufficient to support the routine use of inhaled prostacyclin for acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill children or adults with low blood oxygen levels. Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are critical respiratory conditions that are triggered by respiratory viral infections or develop following burns, massive transfusions, multiple trauma, aspiration of gastric contents, pancreatitis, inhalation injury, sepsis, drug overdose and near drowning.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Community use of naloxonefor opioid overdose | Issue 4 | Volume 40 | Australian Prescriber | Australian Prescriber
Will training laypeople in the use of naloxone reduce accidental opioid overdose deaths?
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Evidence on interventions for paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose patients is weak | Cochrane
Poisoning with paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a common cause of hepatic injury. The evidence for all interventions for paracetamol overdose is weak. Activated charcoal, gastric lavage, and ipecacuanha are able to reduce absorption of paracetamol if started within one to two hours of paracetamol ingestion, but the clinical benefit is unclear. Activated charcoal seems to be the best choice if the patient is compliant. N-acetylcysteine seems superior to no intervention and other antidotes (dimercaprol, cysteamine) and should be administered to patients at significant risk of hepatic damage. However, N-acetylcysteine superiority to methionine is unclear. Liver transplantation will clearly benefit patients with irreversible hepatic failure. However, identifying such patients early is problematic and the long-term outcomes in this group of patients have not been reported. Other interventions have not shown any clinical benefit for paracetamol overdose.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Drug diversion | Issue 5 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
Prescription drug diversion has significant health, legal and social implications. Deaths from misuse of prescription drugs account for a significant...
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Management of digoxin toxicity | Issue 1 | Volume 39 | Australian Prescriber
Digoxin toxicity can emerge during long-term therapy for heart failure as well as after an overdose.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Opioids for the treatment of chronic low-back pain | Cochrane
We reviewed the evidence about the effect of opioids on pain and function among people with chronic low-back pain (CLBP).
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Do medications used to treat depression help smokers who are trying to quit | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Quinine for muscle cramps | Cochrane
Muscle cramps can occur anywhere and in anyone; however, leg cramps are especially common in older people. Quinine is a medicine which has been used to treat cramps for many years. There is conflicting evidence for its ability to reduce cramps. Quinine can cause serious, even fatal adverse events, especially in overdosage.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Health Benefits of Niacin (Vitamin B3) in the Diet - Ausmed
Australian researchers in Sydney have published work in the New England Journal of Medicine, confirming a link betweenniacin(vitamin B3) deficiency and an increased risk of miscarriage and birth defectsIn the developing fetus, a low B3 level leads to a deficiency in NAD or Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, a critical molecule in living cells
Read more on Ausmed Education website
The failure of drug prohibition and the future of drug law reform in Australia | Issue 5 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
If Australia starts moving from criminal to civil penalties for drugs, the thresholds for drug offences will need to be raised and the severity of criminal...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
