Acute Opioid Intoxication Symptoms and How to Cope With Them

Opioid-based drugs are used to treat pain after surgery or a dental procedure as well as severe cough or diarrhea. These drugs include:

• Morphine
• Oxycodone
• Hydromorphone
• Synthetic narcotics such as fentanyl
• The illegal drug heroin is also an opioid. 

Recreational users of these drugs may overdose and have severe intoxication. Read on to learn about the signs and symptoms of intoxication, how to cope with it and how to treat it.

Understanding the Dangers of Opioid Intoxication

Substance abuse and intoxication occur when a person misuses opioids. This may be when incorrect doses are taken or prescriptions are misused. Often this is accompanied by the four “Cs” of addiction:

• Cravings
• A loss of control of amount or frequency of use
• Compulsion to continue using
• Use despite negative consequences

When abused, these drugs are used to get high, a relaxed feeling of euphoria. Opioid overdose occurs when a person has excessive unopposed stimulation of the opiate pathway in the body and brain. Intoxication from these drugs can make you feel severely ill and potentially be life-threatening.

In people who abuse opioids to get high, intoxication may be caused by [3]:

• Using too much of the drug
• Using an opioid with certain other drugs, such as sleep medicine or alcohol
• Taking the opioid in abnormal ways, such as smoked or snorted

Acute Opioid Intoxication

More than 1.5 million emergency department visits in the US are related to opioids. They are a common cause of death due to overdose. People with opiate overdose may be lethargic or partially unconscious. Opiate overdose and intoxication can cause respiratory depression, generalized central nervous system (CNS) depression and narrowing of the pupils of the eyes, among other symptoms.

Causes of opioid overdose may include [1];

The risk of opioid overdose increases in the following:

Signs of Acute Opioid Intoxication

There are a range of signs and symptoms, including [2] [3]:

Signs

Symptoms

How To Cope With Opioid Intoxication

First responders may be called to the scene of an intoxication. Subsequently emergency physicians may be involved The provider monitors the person’s vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure. The person may receive:

• Breathing support, including oxygen
• IV fluids
• Naloxone (Evzio, Narcna) to block the effect of the opioid in the CNS
• Other medicines if needed

How To Treat Opioid Addiction

There are two main treatment options available for opioid addiction. Usually they are combined:

Opioid Agonist Therapies

Methadone and Buprenorphine are opioid medications that do not cause intoxication at the correct doses. When they are prescribed, they eliminate a person’s withdrawal symptoms which may help them stabilize their life.

Methadone

Methadone is an opioid medication used to treat severe pain and opioid addiction. When used to treat severe pain, it is available as a tablet or oral solution. For opioid addiction it is available as a fruit-flavored drink, taken orally once a day. It’s a long-acting drug used to replace shorter-acting opioids such as heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl or hydromorphone. It works more slowly in the body and for a longer period of time, typically 24-36 hours, compared to shorter-acting drugs which must be used 3-4 times a day.

It prevents withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings without creating a high or sleepy feeling. This lowers the harms of opioid misuse and gives people a chance to stabilize their lives. This is called methadone maintenance.

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is an opioid medication used to treat pain and opioid addiction. For pain, it is applied as a patch providing pain relief for seven days. For opioid addiction it is combined with naloxone and absorbed under the tongue. Because naloxone can cause withdrawal if injected, adding it to buprenorphine prevents people from misusing the drug.

Addiction Treatment Detox and Counseling

Detox is the first step in treatment. Most patients are transferred to a substitute opioid prescription such as methadone or buprenorphine. This provides stabilization on a controllable drug, dose and regimen. Detoxification is completed in up to a 28-day period as an inpatient, or up to 12 weeks in the community. 

Here is a general timeline for heroin, one of the most difficult drugs to stop using:

• 6-12 hours after last use: Physical heroin withdrawal symptoms begin to show
• 12-48 hours after last use: Physical symptoms reach their peak
• 2 weeks after last use: Physical symptoms subside
• Weeks to months after last use: Psychological symptoms begin to subside

After detoxing, you may enter a residential treatment center such as we have at The Encino Recovery & Detox Center. Trained staff are equipped to offer clinical care. They will provide the support, guidance and interventions necessary for you to reach your treatment goals. Participating in residential care greatly enhances your success rate at avoiding relapses.

Typical therapy approaches include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• 12-Step Program
• Somatic Experiencing and Body Work
• Mindfulness Meditation
• Exposure therapy

Recovery in Los Angeles, California

At the Encino Recovery and Detox Center in Los Angeles we don’t just treat addiction. We nurture the spirit, heal the mind and help you to regain your life. If you or a loved one is seeking a way out of the darkness of substance abuse, private, confidential help is just a call away. Reach out to our Admissions team now. 

Sources

[1] Opioid Intoxication. 2023. MedlinePlus.gov.

[2]  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). 2006. Diagram in 4 Physical Detoxification Services for Withdrawal From Specific Substances.:  Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment.Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 45

[3] Schiller EY, Goyal A, Mechanic OJ. Opioid Overdose. [Updated 2023 Jul 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing