Intoxication - opioids

Proper airway management is important. This may involve

• Breathing support to help maintain proper oxygen levels
• Tube placed through the mouth into the lungs (endotracheal intubation)
• Medicine called naloxone, which helps block the effect of the overdose drug on the central nervous system (such medicine is called a narcotic antagonist)

In most cases, the health care team will monitor the patient for 4 to 6 hours in the emergency room, although the optimal observation time after opioid intoxication has not been defined for most opioids. Those with moderate-to-severe intoxications will likely be admitted to the hospital for 24- to 48 hours.

A psychiatric evaluation is needed for all exposures with suicidal intent.

Tests that will be done include:

• A toxicology screen to detect other substances that may require specialized treatment

Once the acute intoxication has been treated, most individuals would benefit from a discussion of counseling resources available to help stop drug abuse.

Review Date: 04/20/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)