What Are the Signs of Opioid Overdose Toxicity?

When someone takes too much of an opioid substance, they risk an opioid overdose. While a given dose may be comparatively safe for one individual, the same dose might be toxic to another. Opioid overdose treatment requires a quick response to be effective, so recognizing the signs is critical. Certain symptoms are common, like slowed breathing and heart rate, cold or clammy skin, weakness of the limbs, discoloration of the lips and fingernails, and unresponsiveness, but others may also manifest in less obvious ways.

 

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Table of contents

» Why Are Opioids So Addictive?

» What Physical Symptoms Indicate Opioid Use or Addiction?

» How Does Opioid Toxicity Lead to Overdose?

» Can You Overdose on Prescription Opioids as Well as Illicit Ones?

» Key Takeaways on Opioid Overdose Treatment

» Resources

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Why Are Opioids So Addictive?

Opioids are so addictive in part because they trigger powerful chemical receptors in the body that are an essential part of pain relief and the brain’s reward system. When you consume an opioid substance, it binds with these receptors, causing the lessening of pain and an increase in pleasurable sensations. This enables both physical and psychological addiction, because in nature, increased pleasure and decreased pain are generally better than the alternative.

Proper opioid overdose treatment requires understanding physical and psychological addiction in the context of opioid substances. As you consume opioid substances, your body builds a tolerance, requiring higher and higher doses to achieve the same effect.

Not only that, but your brain will compare your new baseline to how you felt after consuming the opioid. What once was enough to eliminate the pain of a broken leg may no longer ease the pain of a random ache. The same dose that made watching a sunset feel like a transcendental experience may be barely enough to feel what was once your baseline.

Like many medications, opioids work by taking advantage of your body’s systems. Pain suppression is a valuable ability that our bodies evolved to escape crisis situations and to prevent overwhelming pain leading to a total loss of function. Opioids effectively trick the body into activating this system, for better or worse.

When proper doses are used and carefully managed, there may be some side effects and physical symptoms of opioid use, but these tend to be limited and not impact quality of life too severely. Unfortunately, when these doses increase or a person is addicted to opioids, the symptoms often become much more noticeable, frequently requiring treatment at a Florida drug rehab center.

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What Physical Symptoms Indicate Opioid Use or Addiction?

Opioids can have a dramatic impact on the body and mind of those who consume them regularly, particularly if they become addicted. Over time, the dose required by the individual will likely increase. This directly impacts their body and behavior, resulting in several physical symptoms:

• Slowed breathing, also called respiratory depression: When the opioid receptors are triggered, the body slows down. This prominently includes a lower breathing rate and shallower breaths. As doses increase, this can become more dangerous, as respiratory depression lowers the rate at which the body dumps CO2 and intakes oxygen.
• Sedation and drowsiness: Opioid use causes the body to relax, ultimately making a user more prone to sleepiness or a sedentary state. While the severity of this drowsiness varies, it is one reason that doctors recommend not operating motor vehicles or heavy machinery while under the influence of opioids.
• Constipation: Opioid use affects the entire body. Just as your throat moves food down to your stomach when you swallow, muscles in your digestive tract move food through your intestines. Opioid use suppresses those muscles, causing food to become stuck or slowed in the intestines, thus leading to constipation.
• Vomiting and nausea: Constipation and the general decrease in gastrointestinal motility, the ability for material to travel through your digestive tract, can also lead to nausea and vomiting. There are additional implications of opioid use on inner ear function and a direct increase in nausea as well, due to how opioids bind with chemical receptors in the brain. Regardless, this symptom in particular has implications for opioid overdose treatment, because a patient’s ability to keep medication in their system can be compromised.
• Severe itching, also called Pruritus: Opioids trigger ancient chemical pathways in the body, meant to react to dangerous situations. One way they do this is by triggering the release of histamines. These histamines cause itchiness and can, in some cases, also cause swelling.

Many symptoms of opioid use and addiction can sometimes be subtle, but knowing what to look for can help. During opioid overdose, these symptoms often help identify that someone may need help and what form of opioid detox treatment they should take.

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How Does Opioid Toxicity Lead to Overdose?

When the human body processes a drug in any form, it can only process a certain amount safely at any given time. For opioids, this amount changes with use due to the development of opioid tolerance. This leads to a few scenarios where opioid toxicity can lead to overdose:

• Taking a higher dose after not having opioids for some time: The body’s ability to tolerate opioids can change over time and tolerances that have built up from previous opioid use do not last forever. Oftentimes, someone who previously used Opioids will remember the dose they typically consumed and simply take that same dose. Unfortunately, with reduced tolerance after discontinued consumption, this can lead to overdose with minimal warning.
• Increased tolerance leading to an unpredictably higher dose: When tolerance to an opioid increases, the dose that is required to receive the same beneficial effects also increases. Unless a medical professional carefully manages this process, this can lead to unpredictable outcomes, including overdose.
• Mixing opioids with different strengths: One common problem is the introduction of additional opioids without adequately accounting for how the doses should interact. In particular, this issue occurs when drugs such as fentanyl are added to controlled substances by dealers. Because the person consuming the opioid substance may not even be aware they are consuming it, consistent and safe dosing becomes impossible.

The scenarios above may lead to you or a loved one needing treatment for opioid overdose. Medical oversight can help lower the risk of overdose and increase the drug rehab success rate, as a professional will know best how to treat the opioids in question appropriately. Unfortunately, even prescription opioids carry risks that you should be aware of.

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Can You Overdose on Prescription Opioids as Well as Illicit Ones?

Yes, you can overdose on prescription opioids as well as illicit ones. In fact, according to research from Stanford University, prescription opioids account for 40% of all opioid related deaths. Many illicit opioids were initially designed for medical use. In fact, fentanyl, which has rapidly become a major adversary in opioid overdose treatment, still remains in common use as a treatment for pain during C-section births.

Even drugs that have legitimate medical uses are dangerous when taken incorrectly. This is why proper disposal of prescription medication, as well as following the written and verbal instructions of your doctor and pharmacist, are key steps to prevent overdose.

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Key Takeaways on Opioid Overdose Treatment

• Opioids are so addictive because they trigger opioid receptors in the brain, causing physical and psychological dependency.
• Tolerance increases with continued use of opioid substances, leading to difficult dosing and the possibility of overdose.
• Opioid overdose treatment is an ongoing process that requires healthcare providers, patients, and their loved ones to work together to overcome.
• Always be careful when considering opioids for pain management. They are an effective and often necessary tool for managing severe pain, but require medical oversight.
• If you suspect you or someone you know is experiencing an opioid overdose, call 911 immediately.

WhiteSands Treatment in Florida offers compassionate, effective care for opioid withdrawal, recovery, and treatment. Our addiction treatment specialists have heard and seen the emotional, physical, and mental challenges that come from opioid use and have the experience to help anyone recover. WhiteSands Treatment provides structured support, holistic wellness programs, and everything needed to safely taper off opioids, restore life balance, and increase overall well-being.

With an experienced team guiding each patient through a personalized recovery journey, WhiteSands Treatment addresses the symptoms and root causes of opioid dependence. For those seeking a safe, effective, and lasting path forward, we are a trusted partner in achieving long-term health and freedom from stimulant dependence.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.

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Resources

• Stanford University – The Opioid Crisis: Tragedy, Treatments and Trade-offs
• Florida Health – Florida Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology (FL-DOSE)
• CDC – Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic
• Cleveland Clinic – What is an Opioid Overdose?

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.