Injury or Poisoning
opiate overdose
o·pi·ate o·ver·dose [ oh-pee-it, -eyt oh-ver-dohs ]
Subclass of:
Opioid-Related Disorders;
Drug Overdose
Definitions related to opiate overdose:
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Accidental or deliberate use of an OPIOID in excess of normal dosage. It includes overdose for prescription and illicit opioids.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(opioid overdose) Opioids, sometimes called narcotics, are a type of drug. They include strong prescription pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and tramadol. The illegal drug heroin is also an opioid. A health care provider may give you a prescription opioid to reduce pain after you have had a major injury or surgery. You may get them if you have severe pain from health conditions like cancer. Some health care providers prescribe them for chronic pain. Prescription opioids used for pain relief are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by your health care provider. However, people who take opioids are at risk for opioid dependence and addiction, as well as an overdose. These risks increase when opioids are misused. Misuse means you are not taking the medicines according to your provider's instructions, you are using them to get high, or you are taking someone else's opioids. Opioids affect the part of the brain that regulates breathing. When people take high doses of opioids, it can lead to an overdose, with the slowing or stopping of breathing and sometimes death. An opioid overdose can happen for a variety of reasons, including if you Take an opioid to get high; Take an extra dose of a prescription opioid or take it too often (either accidentally or on purpose);...MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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