Symptoms described here would begin 1/2 hour after dose has been swallowed; 5 to 10 minutes after injected or snorted.
Signs and Symptoms Action to Be Taken Possible Drugs Of Cause8. May be confused
1. Unable or difficult 1. Artificial respiration Depressants (downers) to arouse 2. Call for medical help! opiates 2. Breathing not effective barbiturates 3. Hands and arms cold and Note: All overdose victims alcohol moist of depressants should be sedative hypnotics 4. Bluish fingernails, watched (monitored) for at quaaludes lips, and gums least 12 and up to 24 combination of above hours, even after awake.
1. Excitement, restlessness, 1. Sit person up Stimulants (uppers) agitation 2. Encourage person calmly amphetamines 2. Breathing rapidly to take deep breaths ritalin (hungry for air) through mouth cocaine 3. Pulse feels bounding and 3. Give fluids-preferably MDA rapid warm caffeine 4. Visible pulsations in 4. If person begins to head faint, have any 5. Skin hot and flushed, breathing difficulty, lips dark become very hot to the 6. Hand and arm tremors touch, or have convul- 7. Generalized shaking sions- get medical help!
If you know person has Aspirin
taken aspirin, try to
induce vomiting and get
medical help
1. Blue lips 1. Get medical help fast! Strychnine
2. Grotesque facial 2. Watch breathing! PMA, TMA
expression (exaggerated Breathing may stop
grimace or grin) suddenly
3. Spastic tremors of arms
and legs
4. Neck bent back
5. Possible convulsions
1. Difficultly talking and 1. Get medical help! Belladonna Alkaloids
swallowing (atropine)
2. Very large pupils Note: With belladonna Jimson Weed
3. Flushed, hot, red face (atropine) poisoning, Sominex
4. Dry mouth medical personnel should Compoz
5. Blurred vision be made aware that person Quiet World
6. Fever may need oxygen. Determin- San Man
ations of blood gass levels Sleep-Eze
must be done! Donnatal
Contaminant in some
street drugs par-
ticularly hal-
lucinogens and
stimulants
Multiple stomach re-
laxants
Many other over-the-
counter drugs