Your Care Instructions
You have had treatment to help your body recover from taking too much of an opioid. You are getting better, but you may not feel well for a while. It takes time for the opioid to leave your body. How long it takes to feel better depends on which drug you took and how much you took of it.
Opioids include illegal drugs such as heroin, often called smack, junk, H, and ska. Opioids also include medicines that doctors prescribe to treat pain. These are medicines such as oxycodone, methadone, and buprenorphine. They are sometimes sold and used illegally.
Taking too much of an opioid can be dangerous. It may cause:
- Trouble breathing.
- Low blood pressure.
- A low heart rate.
- A coma.
When the doctor treated you for the overdose, he or she may have:
- Watched your symptoms or done tests to find out what kind of drug you took.
- Given you fluids.
- Given you oxygen to help you breathe.
- Given you a medicine called naloxone to help reverse the effects of the opioid.
- Done several tests, including blood tests, to see how you're responding to treatment.
The doctor also watched you carefully to make sure you were recovering safely.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
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