All medications can cause problems when not taken correctly.  Pain medications, even those sold over-the-counter, can have deadly consequences when overdosed.  Having the right balance of medications for pain and not having significant side effects is the trick that a good pain physician will try to develop for a patient.  It is always necessary to keep track of the patient’s medications, even nonprescription to monitor for adverse reactions. This article will discuss the signs of overdose for opioids, over-the-counter meds, and neuropathic medication.

Opioid Overdose

Narcotic/opioid medications have had the most publicity concerning overdose.  These are the drugs like Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycodone, and Morphine. These drugs are powerful analgesics and are commonly given for severe pain.  Side effects are common and include:

• Upset stomach
• Constipation
• Nausea
• A tired or “drugged” feeling

Signs of an overdose of opioid medications include:

• Excessive tiredness & sleeping
• Low pulse and blood pressure
• Decreased breathing

Significant overdose may be treated with a medication called Narcan to reverse these effects.  There is a push for all emergency responders to carry Narcan since overdose of these medications is becoming common due to drug abuse.

Neuropathic Medication Overdose

Neuropathic medications include many antidepressants (like amitriptyline, and Cymbalta), and seizure medications (such as gabapentin, Topamax, and Lyrica).  These medications often have annoying side effects such as:

• Dry mouth
• Short term tiredness

If they cause significant changes like memory problems or worsening depression, talk to the physician about problems.  Overdose with antidepressants such as amitriptyline can cause severe respiratory problems and needs to be treated with acute hospitalization.

Over the Counter Medication Overdose

Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen also have problems if overdosed.  Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can cause ulcers and stomach bleeds in some people, even at normal doses, but these affects can be treated.  Acetaminophen however is very dangerous if taken in to high of a dose.  Taking 1.5 times the recommended amount can lead to liver failure and even death.  If you have been taking too much acetaminophen the eyes and skin can turn yellow indicating liver damage, and must be treated promptly by a physician.

Pain medicines can be very helpful in managing symptoms.  Like all drugs, they need to be taken only as directed.  Make sure your physician knows all the medications that you are taking. Additionally, be sure to talk to your doctor about whether you can eat certain foods, or drink alcohol with your medication. If side effects of a medication are a problem, talk to the doctor before stopping the medication, sometimes these drugs need to be tapered off or just changed slightly to be helpful.