An overdose of amphetamines can cause visual and hearing impairment, arrhythmia and even a heart attack and amphetamine psychosis. An overdose of intravenous amphetamine can cause cyanosis, thrombosis, embolism and subarachnoid haemorrhage. How to provide first aid for an overdose of amphetamines?

Amphetamine overdose , even whenfirst aidis given correctly, can lead to death. At the same time, the lethal dose of amphetamine has not been established, because the intensity of its action depends on individual characteristics and the development of tolerance to this drug. Tolerance to amphetamines develops slowly, and the dose of the drug may gradually increase, reaching values ​​several hundred times higher than therapeutic doses. Sometimes addicts inject themselves up to 15 g of amphetamine per day without visible symptoms of acute poisoning, although the results of the tests show poisoning.

Amphetamine overdose: symptoms

If large amounts of amphetamines are ingested, sight and hearing impairment, arrhythmia and even a heart attack and amphetamine psychosis may occur. Intravenous amphetamines can cause cyanosis, blood clots, embolisms and spinal hemorrhages.

  • Symptoms of the cardiovascular system: tachycardia, chest pain, hypertension, cardiovascular collapse (a state of acute circulatory failure combined with a sudden drop in blood pressure, manifested by severe weakness, a feeling of freezing, often with loss of consciousness), vasospasm, stroke.
  • Nervous system symptoms: anxiety, agitation, convulsions, hyperthermia, euphoria, insomnia.
  • Autonomic symptoms: mydriasis, sweating, nausea, tremor, tachypnea (increased respiratory rate).

The cause of death after an overdose of amphetamines is paralysis of the respiratory muscles or cardiac arrest in the course of dangerous arrhythmias or heart attacks.
Combination of amphetamines with other psychostimulants, such as cocaine, is especially dangerous. There are known from the literature cases of deaths after taking e.g. UFO tablets in the mechanism of acute circulatory failure.

Amphetamine overdose: first aid

If there is someone in your presenceoverdose on amphetamines, call an ambulance - call 999 or 112. If the amphetamine overdose has led to loss of consciousness:

  • place it face up on the floor,
  • open the upper respiratory tract (tilt your head back),
  • if he is not breathing, start resuscitation: first, give a heart massage - 30 compressions on the chest in the middle of the sternum, perform mouth-to-mouth breathing (tilt your head back and raise your chin, pinch your nose by pinching it with your thumb and index finger, take a deep breath, put your mouth to the open mouth of the victim and breathe in until the chest rises (2 breaths), repeat the steps (30 compressions and 2 inhalations) until the spontaneous breathing returns, or until the arrival of professional help,
  • if she is breathing, keep her warm and secure, place the person in a recovery position.

Category:

Psychology