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Heroin overdose - Symptom

Alternative Names

Acetomorphine overdose; Diacetylmorphine overdose

Symptoms:

Airways and lungs
- No breathing
- Shallow breathing
- Slow and difficult breathing
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Dry mouth
- Extremely small pupils, sometimes as small as the head of a pin ("pinpoint pupils")
- Tongue discoloration
Heart and blood
- Low blood pressure
- Weak pulse
Skin
- Bluish-colored nails and lips
Stomach and intestines
- Constipation
- Spasms of the stomach and intestinal tract
Nervous system
- Coma
- Delirium
- Disorientation
- Drowsiness
- Muscle spasticity

Reviewed last on: 10/5/2009
Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Doyon S. Opioids. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004:chap 167.

National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Report Series: Heroin Abuse and Addiction. National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information. October 1997. NIH Publications No. 05-4165. Revised May 2005.

Toxicology screen

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Heroin overdose - Symptom

Alternative Names

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