Depressant Overdose
Depressants and alcohol act on the same areas of the brain. It’s important to avoid alcohol if you are taking depressants. It’s also important to avoid taking more than one drug at a time. The use of more than one drug or the use of drugs and alcohol can cause an overdose.
Signs of a depressant overdose include:
- Shallow breathing
- Weak pulse
- Clammy skin
- Gray, ashen, colorless, or bluish tint to skin
- Drowsiness or extreme fatigue
- Confusion, agitation, anxiety, and mood changes
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech or acting drunk
- Amnesia
- Physical weakness or lack of coordination
- Hypotonia (lack of muscle tone)
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty breathing or depressed breathing
- Stupor or unresponsiveness
- Hallucinations
- Hypotension (lowered blood pressure)
- Coma
- Death
If you think someone is experiencing a depressant overdose:
- Call 911 immediately.
- If the person is conscious, keep them talking if possible.
- DO roll them to the side to make sure they don’t choke on their own vomit.
- DO NOT try to get them to vomit.
- Make sure they do not ingest alcohol or drugs while waiting for emergency help to arrive.