Evie Summers
Sleeping pills are a common intervention for insomnia and other sleep disorders. They can be purchased over the counter or with a prescription. While they are intended to help people sleep, they can be dangerous if not used correctly. An overdose can occur when someone takes more than the recommended amount of medication or combines sleeping pills with other substances, such as alcohol or other medications. This can lead to serious health consequences and even death. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the risks and side effects of sleeping pills and to take them only as directed by a healthcare professional.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reasons for overdose | Misuse, accidental ingestion, or combination with other substances |
| Treatment | Supportive care, flumazenil, activated charcoal, hemodialysis, whole bowel irrigation, CPR, naloxone |
| Prevention | Following prescribed dosages, avoiding mixing with alcohol or drugs, storing medication securely |
| Symptoms | Slowed breathing, unresponsiveness, severe drowsiness, confusion, abdominal pain, clumsiness, lethargy |
| Risk factors | Age, history of witnessing overdoses, incarceration, use of multiple drugs, including heroin and cocaine |
| Long-term complications | Addiction, withdrawal symptoms, relapse |
| Drugs commonly associated with overdose | Ambien, Lunesta, Restoril, Sonata, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, opioids, alcohol |
| Signs of overdose | Physical and psychological symptoms, slowed brain function, loss of consciousness |
| Emergency response | Call 911, provide information about the drugs taken, do not leave the person alone, monitor breathing |
| Diphenhydramine overdose | Unsteadiness, serious heart rhythm disturbances, death |
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What You'll Learn
Treatment and prevention
If you suspect someone has overdosed on sleeping pills, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Provide as much information as possible, including the type of sleeping pill taken, the approximate amount, and the time of ingestion. This information will help emergency personnel provide the appropriate care promptly. It is crucial to stay with the person and monitor their breathing and responsiveness until help arrives. If they are unconscious but breathing, position them on their side to prevent choking in case of vomiting. Do not attempt to induce vomiting unless explicitly instructed by a medical professional. Prompt medical attention is essential, as sleeping pill overdoses can lead to long-term complications or fatal outcomes without treatment.
In some cases, medications such as flumazenil may be used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepine sleeping pills. However, its use must be carefully considered due to associated risks, such as the risk of seizure and heart rhythm disorders. If the victim has also used opioids, naloxone may be administered to reverse the opioid overdose. Additionally, it is important to ensure the person is breathing adequately. If they are not breathing and you are trained, provide rescue breathing by tilting the person's head back, pinching their nose closed, and giving two slow breaths, followed by one breath every five seconds. Watch for the chest to rise, indicating air is entering the lungs. Do not place anything in the person's mouth if they are unconscious, as this could cause choking.
Sleeping pill overdoses are usually treated with supportive care, meaning that medical professionals monitor the patient's breathing and cardiovascular system while the body works the drug out of their system. In some cases, activated charcoal, hemodialysis, or whole bowel irrigation may be used to help treat an overdose.
To prevent a sleeping pill overdose, it is crucial to follow prescribed dosages, avoid mixing sleeping pills with alcohol or other drugs, and store medication securely. It is also important to be aware of the side effects of sleeping pills so that you can stop taking the drug and consult your doctor if necessary. Recognizing the signs of a sleeping pill overdose early can save a life. Common symptoms include slowed breathing, unresponsiveness, severe drowsiness, and confusion.
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Risk factors
Sleeping pills are depressant medications that slow down the body's functions. While modern sleeping pills are safer than their predecessors, overdose is still possible and can lead to death. The risk of overdose increases when sleeping pills are combined with other substances, such as alcohol, opioids, or other sedatives, which amplify their sedative effects. Mixing sleeping pills with alcohol can cause an individual to stop breathing, which may result in death. From 2002 to 2015, the rate of overdose deaths from combining sedatives and opioids doubled, and the majority of sedative-related overdose deaths happen for this reason.
Accidental overdoses can also occur when individuals become dependent on sleeping pills but, over time, become less responsive to the drug. In a desperate attempt to get sleep, they may end up taking too many. Older adults are at a greater risk of overdose from sleeping pills due to decreased drug metabolism rates. Additionally, individuals who have been taking sleeping pills recreationally may begin to inject the drug and miscalculate the dosage, leading to overdose.
Certain behaviours have been identified as risk factors for overdose in young people, including witnessing overdoses, incarceration, and the use of multiple drugs such as heroin and cocaine. This could extend to the misuse of prescription sleeping pills.
Finally, it is important to note that even small quantities of sleeping pills can cause an overdose in sensitive individuals, and grapefruit increases the absorption of sleep-inducing drugs into the bloodstream, causing unintentional overdose.
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Short and long-term effects
Overdosing on sleeping pills can lead to many different short- and long-term effects, depending on the type of medication and dose. Sleeping pills are depressant medications that act on the central nervous system to slow down the body's functions. While modern sleeping pills are safer than their predecessors, death from sleeping pill overdose is still possible.
Short-term effects of sleeping pill overdose
Sleeping pill overdose can cause slowed breathing, unresponsiveness, severe drowsiness, confusion, and even death. Other physical signs of sleeping pill overdose include extreme lethargy, abdominal pain, trouble breathing, and clumsiness. Overdose can also cause parasomnias, which are complex sleep behaviours such as sleepwalking, that occur when taking higher doses of sleeping pills.
Long-term effects of sleeping pill overdose
The long-term effects of a sleeping pill overdose depend on how quickly treatment is started. Unless a person has experienced prolonged oxygen deprivation, the effects of the overdose tend to last only as long as the drug remains in the system. However, if treatment is not started early, long-term complications or fatal outcomes can occur.
Sleeping pills can also be addictive, with the risk of addiction being greater when a person takes more than the prescribed dose or combines sleeping pills with other substances. Dependence and withdrawal can occur even when medication is taken as prescribed, and around 60% of people who take benzodiazepines for longer than six months experience mild to severe withdrawal symptoms.
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Signs and symptoms
- Slowed breathing: Sleeping pills act as depressants on the central nervous system, slowing down essential bodily functions like breathing. Slowed breathing is a telltale sign of a sleeping pill overdose and requires immediate medical attention.
- Unresponsiveness: A person experiencing a sleeping pill overdose may become unresponsive or extremely difficult to wake up. They may fall into a deep sleep and be challenging to rouse, even with external stimuli.
- Severe drowsiness: While drowsiness is an intended effect of sleeping pills, an overdose can lead to extreme lethargy and excessive sleepiness. The person may appear excessively tired and have difficulty staying awake.
- Confusion: Disorientation and confusion are possible symptoms of a sleeping pill overdose. The affected individual may seem confused about their surroundings or exhibit unusual behaviour.
- Abdominal pain: In some cases, a sleeping pill overdose may cause abdominal discomfort or pain. This could indicate severe internal issues resulting from the overdose.
- Clumsiness: Overdosing on sleeping pills can lead to a loss of coordination and clumsiness. The person may stumble or have difficulty with balance and fine motor skills.
- Parasomnias: Parasomnias are complex sleep behaviours that can occur during sleep. These include sleepwalking, talking in sleep, or other uncontrolled movements and actions. While rare, parasomnias associated with sleeping pill use can be dangerous and challenging to detect.
- Seizures: In some cases, a sleeping pill overdose may result in seizures. It is crucial to keep the person safe from injury during a seizure and avoid restraining them or putting anything in their mouth.
- Tolerance and dependency: Regular use of sleeping pills can lead to tolerance, where the body requires higher doses to achieve the same effects. This can increase the risk of accidental overdose as individuals may unintentionally take too many pills in an attempt to fall asleep.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Sleeping pills can cause physical and psychological dependency, leading to withdrawal symptoms when reducing or stopping the medication. Benzodiazepine withdrawal, in particular, can be life-threatening and should be managed under medical supervision.
It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive, and the specific signs and symptoms may vary depending on the individual, the type of sleeping pill, and the presence of other substances. If you suspect someone is exhibiting signs of a sleeping pill overdose, it is crucial to call emergency services immediately and provide as much information as possible about the situation.
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Emergency response
Sleeping pill overdose is a critical condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you suspect someone has overdosed on sleeping pills, follow these emergency response steps:
Call Emergency Services
Dial 911 or your local emergency number. Provide as much information as possible, including the type of sleeping pill taken, the approximate amount, and the time of ingestion. This information will help emergency personnel provide the appropriate care promptly. If the victim appears to be gasping for air or has ceased breathing, administer CPR if you are trained to do so.
Do Not Leave the Person Alone
It is important to stay with the person until help arrives. Monitor their breathing and responsiveness. If they are unconscious but breathing, position them on their side to prevent choking in case of vomiting.
Avoid Inducing Vomiting
Do not attempt to induce vomiting unless explicitly instructed to do so by a medical professional.
Administer Naloxone if Trained
If the victim has also used opioids, naloxone may be administered to reverse the opioid overdose.
Provide Rescue Breathing if Necessary
If the person is not breathing adequately and you are trained, tilt their head back, pinch their nose closed, and give two slow breaths, followed by one breath every 5 seconds. Watch for the chest to rise, indicating air is entering the lungs. Do not place anything in their mouth if they are unconscious, as this could cause choking.
Prevent Choking During a Seizure
If the person experiences a seizure, keep them safe from injury and do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth.
It is crucial to recognize the signs of a sleeping pill overdose early, as overdoses can progress rapidly and timely intervention is critical. Physical signs of a sleeping pill overdose may include extreme lethargy, abdominal pain, breathing trouble, and clumsiness.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleeping pill overdose is a critical condition that requires immediate medical attention. Signs of overdose can manifest physically and psychologically and may include dizziness and nausea. In severe cases, the victim may stop breathing and lose consciousness.
Overdosing on sleeping pills can be accidental or intentional. Accidental overdose can occur when an individual takes more than the recommended dose or combines sleeping pills with other drugs, such as opioids or alcohol, which strengthen the depressive effects. Intentional overdose may be the result of suicide attempts. It is important to take sleeping pills only as prescribed and to be aware of their potential side effects.
If you suspect someone is experiencing a sleeping pill overdose, call emergency services immediately. Ensure that the person is breathing adequately. If they are not breathing, administer rescue breathing by tilting their head back, pinching their nose closed, and giving two slow breaths followed by one breath every five seconds. Do not place anything in the person's mouth if they are unconscious, as this could cause choking.
