Sleeping Pill Overdose: Causes and Emergency Treatment

Key Points:

• Sleeping pills, including barbiturates and benzodiazepines, can be addictive and lead to overdose, especially when taken in excess or combined with other substances.
• Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are sedative hypnotics used to ease anxiety and induce sleep.
• Signs of sleeping pill overdose include slowed breathing and heart rate, slurred speech, unconsciousness, and bluish tinge to skin.
• Overdose can be deliberate (suicide attempt) or accidental due to misuse or combining with other depressant substances.
• Emergency treatment involves stomach pump, activated charcoal, fluids, respirator, dialysis, and medications to stabilize heart and breathing.
• Romazicon may be administered to reverse benzodiazepine overdose, but it carries risks.
• Naloxone is used to reverse opioid overdose in cases of co-occurring opioid use.
• Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be severe and life-threatening; tapering off the medication under medical supervision is recommended.
• Treatment for sleeping pill addiction includes psychotherapy, medications, support groups, and addressing underlying mental health conditions.

Understanding Sleeping Pills:

• Sleeping pills are depressant medications that slow down the body's functions.
• They are prescribed to ease anxiety or enable sleep.
• Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are the two main types of sedative hypnotics.

Signs of Sleeping Pill Overdose:

• Slowed breathing and heart rate
• Dizziness or fainting spells
• Inability to think or respond normally
• Increasing coldness of the skin
• Slurred speech
• Unconsciousness
• Unsteadiness
• Vomiting
• Shock
• Coma
• Bluish tinge to lips, fingers, and skin (cyanosis)

Causes of Overdose:

• Overuse of sleeping pills can depress body functions, leading to unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and death.
• Deliberate suicide attempts may occur, but vomiting can prevent successful suicide.
• Accidental overdose can occur due to mistake, combining with other depressant drugs, or decreased drug metabolism in older adults.
• Recreational users who inject the drug may miscalculate the dosage, leading to overdose.

Emergency Treatment:

• Hospital admission and close monitoring, usually in intensive care.
• Treatment may involve:
  • Stomach pump
  • Activated charcoal
  • Medications to flush the drug through the bowels or urinary tract
  • Intravenous fluids
  • Respirator
  • Dialysis
  • Medications to stabilize heart function
  • Psychiatric care
  • Romazicon (flumazenil) for benzodiazepine overdose
  • Naloxone for opioid overdose

Dependence, Addiction, and Withdrawal:

• Sleeping pills can be addictive, especially when misused or combined with other substances.
• Dependence and withdrawal can occur even with prescribed use.
• Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can be severe and life-threatening.
• Tapering off the medication under medical supervision is necessary.

Long-Term Treatment:

• Treatment for sleeping pill addiction includes:
  • Psychotherapy
  • Medications
  • Support groups
  • Addressing underlying mental health conditions
• Consult your doctor or a mental health professional for personalized treatment.

Emergency Action:

• If you suspect a sleeping pill overdose, call 911 immediately.
• Keep the person awake and talking until help arrives.
• Place the person in the recovery position if unconscious.