Specialties Emergency
Published Jan 22, 2010
It seems like this week the theme in the ER was intentional overdose. What's the most common drug that you see people take in excess? I'd say in my experience it's been Seroquel. I'm kind of guessing one of the side effects is harm to self.
P_RN, ADN, RN
6,011 Posts
I was at this gym once when this really muscled up guy passedout. One of the other guys said 'oh don't mind him he drinks 2 to 2 1/2 GALLONS of water right before he starts working out. " I did mind and called 911. Last I heard his Na was in the 1 teens and his K was in the 2s. Water intoxication. And this wasn't the first time the ER had seen him either.
RNgirlie
70 Posts
antidepressants.
But definately the most interesting is ingestion of bleach (which I have seen on 3 seperate occasions).
aura_of_laura
321 Posts
WHat happened with the "granny's insulin" overdose? Were you able to save him/her?
He survived - he was a heavy steroid abuser ('roid rage is a fearsome thing), which may have worked in his benefit. Probably one of the saddest patients I've ever had.
KungFuFtr
297 Posts
Was it an accidental od? He might have been using insulin injections for the growth affect.
No, he shot up the whole bottle and hid in the attic to die. From my understanding, he passed out and came to the next day. His mom brought him in for erratic behaviour right after, and the story came to light... I assume Granny probably missed her insulin.
fiveofpeep
1,237 Posts
I heard of an accidental suicide d/t hypoglycemia secondary to unprescribed insulin use for weight loss
ERnewbieRN, BSN, RN
91 Posts
Seroquel, Klonopin and Soma for rx'd meds... and prob. ETOH & tylenol for OTC stuff. I HATE Soma OD's.
ThrowEdNurse, BSN, RN
298 Posts
If only they knew hyperglycemia makes you thin...
needsmore$
237 Posts
Tylenol. Especially in the teens--
The danger is--they get no SE....right away. So, they don't tell anybody. And then their liver's shot
And in others--Tylenol is the hidden ingredient...all the different OTC stuff that teens can get--many have Tylenol in it. It all adds up
Alcohol.
And then various prescribed stuff that they may use themselves regularly--from SSRIs, to narcs
Street drug--varies. We rarely get 'one' flavor per person --often it's a mixed bag of coke, heroin, etc...