Did I Experience Opioid Intoxication?

Did you recently use an opioid?

Did you experience clinically significant problematic behavioral or psychological changes (e.g., initial euphoria followed by apathy, dysphoria, psychomotor agitation or retardation, impaired judgment) that developed during or shortly after, opioid use?

Did you experience pupillary constriction (or pupillary dilation due to anoxia from severe overdose) and drowsiness or coma developing during or shortly after, opioid use?

Did you experience pupillary constriction (or pupillary dilation due to anoxia from severe overdose) and slurred speech developing during or shortly after, opioid use?

Did you experience pupillary constriction (or pupillary dilation due to anoxia from severe overdose) and impairment in attention or memory developing during or shortly after, opioid use?

Can you confirm that the symptoms are not attributable to another medical condition and are not better explained by another mental disorder, including intoxication with another substance?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you experienced opioid intoxication.

While it is unlikely that you experienced opioid intoxication, you have displayed a symptom related to it. Opioids are severe pain relievers and they release dopamine into the body. When someone takes too much (an overdose) of an opioid, this is called opioid intoxication. Depending on how much of the drug has been taken, severity of the symptoms may vary. If you have a problem with opioid use or if you are addicted to the drug, it may be important to talk with your doctor.

While it is unlikely that you experienced opioid intoxication, you have been displaying some signs related to it. You may not have experienced intoxication, but opioid dependency is also a problem you should take seriously. It may be necessary to talk with your doctors about your symptoms and concerns about addiction. An opioid overdose usually requires (emergency) treatment. At the hospital a nurse will typically measure your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate. Additionally, they may conduct a toxicology screening. Naloxone will be administered to prevent the drug from further affecting the central nervous system.

Unfortunately, you have been displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have opioid intoxication. In case someone near you may have taken an opioid overdose, it’s crucial to call your local emergency service. Opioid intoxication can be mild or severe. The mild cases are easier to treat, while severe cases need prolonged hospital treatment. With treatment, the mild intoxication symptoms will improve, but it does not address the addiction. Behavioral therapy is an effective intervention for opioid intoxication and group therapies may help as well. If you are worried about being opioid dependent or if you would like to know more about drug addictions, it would be best to talk with your doctor.