Overdoses

I've seen two I can remember this summer in their early 20's who had purposely tried to OD on Tylenol. One was really sick, one was intubated for a few days, but both recovered fine.

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad they both recovered okay. This patient of mine recovered okay as well, it was a very scary situation for awhile though...he will not remember that part ...only his family and the hospital staff.

Anyone else have some stories you could share?

Often it seems these are cries for help (when the person tells their loved one they took some pills). However, I have seen some really sad cases. I don't know if they were cries for help gone bad or real intent. I do believe many people do not know the harm they can cause themselves if they don't just immediately die (I mean the comorbidities of organ failure). I have cared for several very young people (under 30 years of age) that had to be put on transplant list and many did not make it and those that did suffered horrible disabled lives....

Hi ICU Nurses,

I am a fourth year student and I have a quick question for you regarding drug overdoses. Basically what have your experiences been dealing with young overdose patients? I had my first overdose patient in clinical who had accidently OD'ed on oxy's, cocaine, and alcohol. I never imagined the nightmare that these patients had to go through..I guess you see on TV that they pump the stomach and the person is fine. Not that you are intubated on life support, with every tube and wire, possible brain damage, etc... If you could give me some insight or stories on patients you've had, I would appreciate that.

Susie

I've seen some ICU folks in their 20's who had "just enough" crack cocaine. Not sure I'd call it an OD, but it was enough to cause a nasty heart attack, resulting in major heart muscle damage, an ejection fraction in the 20's, and CHF at an early age. Very nasty! Not a good way to destroy a major part of their life span.

Some end up on a ventilator for weeks, catch nasty ICU antibiotic resistant organisms, go into multiple organ failure. Then they die.

You see the idjits who swallow a few dozen Soma tabs, go through the ER, then get a trip to the ICU. Then there are the serious ODs on tricyclic antidepressants. Lots of cardiac arrhythmias - very bad stuff.

As a paramedic, I had ODs ranging from tearful teenage girls who wanted to "end it all" by taking two NoDoz (caffeine) pills, without success. Then there was the guy who swallowed about 100 methadone tabs (newly refilled scrip). He ended up face down in the mud on a side street, in full arrest. ...The teens who partied on Haldol (oh joy!) and ended up with extrapyramidal reactions, stiff necks and all that good stuff. The heroin ODs in quiet farming areas of the township.....

ODs vary by the person and chemical(s) involved. Some are accidental, some are deliberate. It can be hard to tell one from the other. If in doubt, I tend to lean towards deliberate.

Saw a person OD on Tylenol and then attempt to OD on the Mucomyst too. Can't doubt their intent but dang.....Mucomyst??

Saw a person OD on Tylenol and then attempt to OD on the Mucomyst too. Can't doubt their intent but dang.....Mucomyst??

I guess they could always try to OD on syrup of ipecac for a fun experience!

I guess they could always try to OD on syrup of ipecac for a fun experience!

Try some charcoal smoothies for a rippin' good time

I recall an unfortunate woman who OD's on tylenol by taking capsules, cough syrup (w/ tyl), and lortabs. She went into liver failure and died waiting for a transplant.

Another OD was a prisoner that took a handful of stool softeners. The doc laughed in his face (from the door) and said "son, if you wanted to kill yourself you chose the wrong drug--have a nice night". exit laughing...

The young ODs were often repeaters when I worked at a city/county hospital. Our unit was near the CCU, where ODs were sent for cardiac monitoring.

Recently, my dumb brother-in-law (Earl) shot himself in the mouth and lived. He is self-absorbed. He becomes so involved in his inner dramas that he is angry all the time. This was a trait that I saw in the young suiciders and ODs in CCU. Most of the people who survive have little or no memory of the event. And they are just as angry as they were before the event. If there is a second chance for them, do not expect them to seize it happily.

This is a very sad population, any way you look at it.