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Opioid Overdose Signs and Symptoms

  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Modified:
  • Reading Time: 8 minutes
  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Last Update:
  • Reading Time: 8 minutes

Learn about the critical signs and treatment options for an opioid overdose, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate medical assistance.

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Are you aware that deaths from opioids increased from 56,064 to 75,673 in the 12 months between April 2020 and April 2021 in the United States of America due to an opioid overdose? The information has been confirmed by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics; currently, it is estimated that 2 million people suffer from prescribed opioid addiction.

Opioids are strong prescription pain relievers such as morphine, oxycontin, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and tramadol, often prescribed for chronic pain, including after surgery and advanced cancer. Prescription opioids are best used over a short period due to their addictive nature.

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Families & Addiction

Understanding Overuse & Misuse Risks

What is an Opioid Overdose?

The term opioid is used to describe compounds extracted from the poppy seed and semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds with similar properties that can interact with opioid receptors in the brain.

An opioid overdose occurs when you take a dosage higher than what is prescribed or combine an opioid with other drugs such as alcohol. Opioids are classified as either schedule I or schedule II drugs. It means they have high potency for misuse or abuse. Anyone can overdose on opioids; it doesn’t matter whether you had used the drug before or used it for the first time. Sometimes the pain is so overwhelming that you use it more while trying to reduce it further.

An opioid overdose can occur due to the following reasons;

  • You accidentally take them more or take a more significant number than prescribed; for example, if you take four times instead of twice or take two tablets instead of one.

  • Intentionally increase the dosage to feel a more significant high or reduce the pain prescribed.

  • Intentionally misuse a prescribed drug in a way other than what your doctor prescribed.

  • You mix an opioid with other over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, benzodiazepines, or cocaine.

  • When your child uses a drug prescribed for an adult, you take drugs prescribed for someone else.

  • When you have injected yourself with opioids.

  • When you resume using opioids after a long period of abstinence, e.g., after detoxification.

  • If you have a concurring medical condition such as HIV, lung or liver disease, or mental health conditions.

  • When you use prescription opioids without medical supervision.

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Respiratory Risks & Contributing Factors

Causes of an Opioid Overdose

Opioids interrupt your brain’s receptors by hindering your impulse to breathe. Your breathing will slow down dangerously or stop altogether.

You could suffer from brain damage, coma, or even death if not attended to immediately.

However, its onset depends on the method of ingestion, the dosage ingested, and personal risk factors such as age and weight.

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Recognizing Symptoms & Emergency Actions

Signs and Symptoms of an Opioid Overdose

Suppose you or a loved one uses opioids as pain medication for recreation or struggles with dependency. It is essential to identify most of the signs and symptoms of overdose in case it happens.

Below are some opioid overdose symptoms;

  • Respiratory depression; you will notice snoring or choked breathing, shallow breathing, irregular/halted breathing, or you can stop breathing.

  • Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness.

  • Blue, purple or grayish skin, lips, or fingertips (signifying lack of oxygen).

  • Awake but not able to talk.

  • Frequent vomiting.

  • Confusion and delirium.

  • Very limp body.

  • Cold, pale, or clammy skin.

  • Low blood pressure.

  • Lack of pulse or slow erratic pulse rate.

  • Small pupils.

What to do when you suspect a loved one has had an opioid overdose?

As the saying goes, knowledge is power. Knowing the symptoms and signs of an overdose won’t help your loved one if you don’t know how to intervene when you recognize the symptoms. It greatly determines whether the person lives or passes on.

The following are some immediate actions you need to take when the danger of an opioid overdose looms;

  • Call 9-1-1 immediately and stay with them until an emergency worker arrives.

  • Start rescue breathing if your loved one’s breath is too slow or has stopped; Remove anything that may be in their mouth. Pinch the nose, breathe into his mouth every 5 seconds for 30 seconds, and continue for 2 or 3 minutes. Always follow the instructions of the 9-1-1 operator if you need help performing the rescue breathing procedure.

  • Lay your loved one in the recovery position, i.e., on his side, to avoid choking. Once you breathe again, put them on their side with their top leg and arm crossed over the body.

  • Try to keep your loved one awake and breathing.

  • Administer naloxone if it’s available. Naloxone is a safe medication that counters the effects of an opioid overdose. It is usually injected into the muscle or sprayed into the nose to rapidly block the results of the opioid and force it from the brain.

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Post-Overdose Recovery

Opioid Overdose Treatment

Rescuing your loved one from an opioid overdose does not mean you or your loved one are safe. Once saved from an opioid overdose using naloxone, you will likely go into opioid withdrawal when you wake up. The withdrawal symptoms are excruciating and weary.

You need to find a professional treatment regime that will help you safely wean away from the painkillers without experiencing a relapse and help you remain recovered from the dependency. Consider finding an addiction treatment center to help you with your recovery.

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Safe Practices & Community Awareness

Preventing an Opioid Overdose

It is vital to reduce the use of opioids in the general community and at home. Some of these measures will come in handy to prevent opioid overdose in the community and at home;

  • Keep all medicines, including opioids, away from children’s reach.

  • Only use the recommended or prescribed dosage for your treatment.

  • Be keen to identify when you or a loved one is becoming dependent on the prescribed opioid.

  • Limiting inappropriate over-the-counter sales and purchases of opioids.

  • Monitoring opioid prescribing and dispensing, i.e., do not refill a prescription if its refill time is not due.

  • Increasing the availability of opioid treatment, including for those dependent on prescription opioids

  • Awareness; educate yourself and your loved ones on the dangers of the potency of prescription opioids.

  • Consult your health provider and learn about when you may need naloxone and how to administer it. Make sure your loved ones know how to help in an emergency.

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The Bottom Line

Critical Warnings Against Opioid Misuse

If you are using an opioid, you are at a high risk of suffering from an overdose and related consequences. When using prescription opioids, make sure you strictly follow the doctor’s prescription. Limit your medicine use, safely store your medicines, and don’t share your medicine or borrow a friend’s or another family member’s prescription.

An opioid overdose can kill you within minutes if you don’t get immediate medical intervention or give you permanent brain damage. The consequences are too dire; Do not misuse opioids.

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Written By:

Geoffrey Andaria

Geoffrey Andaria mental health writer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Mental Health Writer

About Author:

Geoffrey Andaria is an experienced mental health content writer and editor. With a B.A. in English and Journalism, Geoffrey is highly educated in freelance articles and research. Having taken courses on social work, Geoffrey is adamant about providing valuable and educational information to individuals affected by mental health and the disease of addiction.

Medically Reviewed By:

Dr. Carl Williams Ph.D., LCADC

Carl Williams, medical content reviewer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Expert Contributor

About Reviewer:

Dr. Williams presently serves on the board of Directors for two non-profit service organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, Philadelphia, Pa, and a Ph.D. with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from Union Institute and University. In Cincinnati, Ohio. He is licensed to practice addictions counseling in both New Jersey and Connecticut and has a pending application as a practicing Psychologist in New Jersey.

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