First Signs of Antidepressant Overdose WisdomCard™
Our Guides and Physician Review team have organized the Top 10 Health Resources on First Signs of Antidepressant Overdose and compiled helpful research notes below.
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Research Notes on First Signs of Antidepressant Overdose
Initial or mild symptoms of antidepressant overdose typically develop within two hours. These symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, a dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, confusion and a headache.1 Other symptoms of antidepressant overdose include dilated pupils, flushed face, hallucinations, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, or agitation. These initial symptoms are a warning of a potentially severe reaction or possible overdose. The symptoms can quickly progress to confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, respiratory collapse, coma, or even death.2
Fast Facts:
- As there are two classes of antidepressants, tricyclic and trazodone, the signs of overdose might vary or be more severe depending on the medication.3
- Overdoses on antidepressants are the most comment causes of drug poisoning seen in emergency departments.4
- The autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, and the heart are the main body systems that are affected by an antidepressant overdose.4
- Antidepressants work best when taken exactly as prescribed by a doctor which helps to reduce side effects and possible overdose, however, according to recent research, increased use of antidepressant medications has resulted in higher rates of overdose.5
- When used properly, antidepressant medications can be very effective and safe.
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Research Notes References
- ↑ Clinical Toxicology (via PubMed): Tricyclic Antidepressant Poisoning (2007)
- ↑ Discovery Health: How Do I Use Antidepressants Safely?
- ↑ YourTotalHealth: Antidepressants
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Emergency Medical Journal (via PubMed): Tricyclic Antidepressant Overdose: A Review (July 2001)
- ↑ Psychopathology (via PubMed): Antidepressant Overdose: Symptoms and Treatment (1987)
About this WisdomCard
- Contributor: Shana Scott
- Reviewer: Nicole Kinsey
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Last update: Oct. 15, 2009
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About WisdomCard
Meet our contributors and reviewers
- Contributor: Shana Scott
- Reviewer: Nicole Kinsey
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Redirects: Signs of antidepressant overdose, Antidepressant overdose, Antidepressant overdose signs, Antidepressant overdose symptoms, Overdose from antidepressants, Overdoing on antidepressants, Overdosing on antidepressants
- Last update: May 15, 2009
Each WisdomCard is handcrafted by our team of physician-guided health advocates. Our goal is to make it easy for you to find the most useful health resources for any health topic by filtering out spam and bad links.
