|  | Conditions Treatments | Prescription Drugs

Signs of Oversedation

Many sedatives are on the market today that typically fall into the categories barbiturates and benzodiazepine. Barbiturates depress the central nervous system and benzodiazepine affects the brain's neurotransmitters and slows down nerve impulses throughout the body. The most common use of barbiturates today is in anesthesia, and benzodiazepine is typically prescribed for anxiety, tension and stress relief. Both exhibit similar signs of oversedation.

  1. Low Dose

    • Each person reacts differently to drugs and each dosage can affect people differently. Even a low dose can lead to oversedation in some people, and they display unusual behavior. Some of the symptoms might include drowsiness, impaired memory and motor skills, confusion, slurred speech, altered vision and depression. For someone who has a low tolerance for medication, they may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, constipation, vomiting or diarrhea.

    High Dose

    • High doses of sedatives usually lead to extreme fatigue and drowsiness. However, it can also include other symptoms in addition to that from a lower dose. A person with a high does of sedatives may display hostile or erratic behavior, mood swings, slowed reflexes or euphoria. The symptoms of sedation are often similar to the symptoms of someone who has had too much alcohol.

    Over-dose

    • The signs of oversedation can often be the same signs as someone taking a low or high dosage, but much of it depends on the individual. However, doses of sedatives over long periods of time can lead to significant build-up in body tissues, and the symptoms may not appear for a few days. Signs typically include impaired thinking, memory and judgment, disorientation, confusion, slurred speech, muscle weakness and lack of coordination.

    Tolerance and Dependence

    • Sedatives are very addictive; a person can easily become addicted once they build up a tolerance to the drug. Once a tolerance develops, the dosage is usually increased so the person can achieve the original effects from the drug. The danger of overdosing increases as the dependence increases. Abuse of sedatives can cause respiratory failure that can lead to death and, if withdrawing from the drug, it should be done slowly or there is a high risk for uncomfortable or painful withdraw symptoms.

Prescription Drugs - Related Articles