Can you overdose on depression pills? (A complete guide)

This blog guide will answer the question of Can you overdose on depression pills. In addition, the blog will also look at what is depression pills, types of depression pills and their rate of overdose, symptoms of an overdose of depression pills, The aftermath of an overdose on depression pills and depression pills, and suicide. 

Can you overdose on depression pills? 

Yes, it is possible for you to overdose on depression pills. 

Like any other drug, excess of depression pills can lead to fatal incidents. Overdose on depression pills is usually the result of taking them with other medications. The dosage of the depression pills that can lead to fatal scenarios depends on various conditions like the type of depression pill, your body’s ability to metabolize, your age and weight, preexisting medical condition

In recent research, it was seen that with an increase in the usage and prescription of depression pills, overdose on them has also significantly increased. The most common way of overdosing on depression pills is by consuming them with alcohol or other drugs. However, there are many kinds of depression pills, that we will address later in the blog. Research has shown that tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have the highest rate of overdose. However, other anti-depressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are used for a drug overdose. 

Case casualty rate proportions indicated more noteworthy harmfulness for TCAs than the SNRI venlafaxine and the NaSSA mirtazapine, the two of which had more prominent poisonousness than the SSRIs. Inside the TCAs, contrasted with amitriptyline both dosulepin and doxepin were more poisonous. Inside the SSRIs, citalopram had a higher case casualty than different SSRIs 

Depression is associated with thoughts of suicide in extreme conditions. Therefore, it is important that if your loved one is depressed, you keep these pills away from them. In fact, antidepressants are number three on the list of the most common causes of poisonings for adults in the United States. This list includes medications as well as other substances, such as cleaning products and chemicals.

What are depression pills? 

Depression is one of the most common and yet the most challenging mental health disorders. A person with depression is usually extremely sad, and losses interest in everything as a result of lower levels of serotonin and other happy neurotransmitters in the bahrain. This leads to lack of sleep, appetite, feelings of worthlessness and helplessness, with constant fatigue all the time. 

 A person dealing with depression is cured using the combination treatment of depression pills known as antidepressants and psychotherapy. 

Antidepressants are pills that impact the brain’s chemical level, which in turn alters the mood and emotions of a person. They mainly focus on happy hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Depression pills act on the increase of these neurotransmitters by blocking their reuptake, altering the person’s mood. 

With a good side, also comes one bad. Most of the antidepressants have side effects. They range from nausea to serotonin syndrome. 

Types of depression pills 

In this section, we will learn the different types of depression pills, their usage, the highest rate of overdose in them, and the signs of overdose in each. 

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

As we know this kind of depression pill has the highest amount of cases of a drug overdose. Tricyclic antidepressants work by forestalling the reabsorption of synapses called serotonin and norepinephrine. The body needs both of these to work regularly. In the event that you have depression, the reclamation of the serotonin and norepinephrine levels can prompt an improvement in your symptoms. 

The day by day portion of the TCA is somewhere in the range of 40 and 100 milligrams (mg). The ordinary portion of imipramine is somewhere in the range of 75 and 150 mg for each day. As indicated by one 2007 audit of U.S. poison focus information, hazardous manifestations are normally observed with dosages more noteworthy than 1,000 mg. In one clinical preliminary, the most reduced lethal portion of imipramine was only 200 mg.

An overdose of these medications can cause: 

• Tachycardia 
• Sleepiness 
• Dry mouth 
• Disarray 
• Sickness 
• Retching 
• Seizures 
• Apnea 
• Heart dysrhythmias 
• Hallucinations 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 

SSRI blocks the reuptake, or assimilation, of serotonin in the mind. This makes it simpler for the synapses to get and send messages, bringing about better and more steady states of mind. It is the most commonly prescribed antidepressant with fewer medication side effects. In addition, it is seen that if taken alone, the rates of overdose are very rare. 

The run of the mill dose of the SSRI fluoxetine (Prozac) is somewhere in the range of 20 and 80 mg for each day. A portion as low as 520 mg of fluoxetine has been related to a deadly outcome. 

In an overdose circumstance, certain indications are probably going to happen, for example, 

• Going bald 
• Changes in sex drive 
• Blacking out 
• Visualizations 
• Seizures 
• Sickness 
• Heart issues 
• Loose bowels 
• Regurgitating 
• Languor 
• A sleeping disorder 
• Trance like state 
• Influenza-like side effects 
• Hazy vision

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

These are normally recommended antidepressants that raise levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, two synapses in the cerebrum that assume a critical job in settling disposition.

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are viewed as less poisonous than TCAs, however more harmful than SSRIs. 

An average portion of the SNRI venlafaxine is somewhere in the range of 75 and 225 mg for every day, taken in a few separated dosages. Deadly results have been seen at portions as low as 2,000 mg (2 g). 

All things considered, most SNRI overdoses aren’t deadly, even at higher dosages. Most instances of lethal overdoses include more than one medication.

In an overdose circumstance, they can possibly cause: 

• Tumult 
• Blacking out 
• Queasiness 
• Spewing 
• Diaherria 
• Unsteadiness 
• Fever 
• Seizures

Symptoms of an overdose on depression pills

The overall symptoms of overdosing on depression pills can vary from mild to severe. The most fatal symptom is serotonin syndrome. The symptoms usually depend on the amount of medication, your body’s reaction to it as well as the item you consumed it with. 

Mild symptoms 

• enlarged pupils
• disarray 
• cerebral pain 
• laziness 
• dry mouth 
• fever 
• obscured vision 
• hypertension 
• sickness and spewing

Severe symptoms 

• hallucination and delusions
• Serotonin syndrome
• anomalous quick pulse (tachycardia) 
• seizures 
• tremors
• low circulatory strain (hypotension) 
• unconsciousness 
• heart failure 
• respiratory discouragement 
• Demise

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome 

Individuals who overdose on antidepressants may likewise encounter serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a genuine negative medication response that happens when a lot of serotonin develops in your body. 

Serotonin disorder can cause: 

• sickness 
• spewing 
• looseness of the bowels 
• stomach cramps 
• disarray 
• tension 
• sporadic heartbeat (arrhythmia) 
• changes in circulatory strain 
• spasms 
• unconsciousness 
• Death 

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The aftermath of an overdose on depression pills 

Luckily, the vast majority completely recuperate from an overdose on antidepressants and can get back inside 24 hours or less after treatment. More extreme overdoses may require 24-hour perception. 

Overdose is generally a happening of a substance misuse issue or a psychological wellness issue. Antidepressants have less potential for maltreatment than other doctor-prescribed medications, for example, sedatives and benzodiazepines. Nonetheless, it is not impossible for individuals to create addiction and reliance on antidepressants, and it tends to be hard for them to quit utilizing since withdrawal manifestations can be agonizing and uncomfortable.

Those with substance misuse and emotional wellness issues ought to consider looking for treatment during recuperation from a stimulant overdose.

Treatment for a drug overdose 

Doctors usually start with pumping the stomach, in order to remove the excessive drug present. In other cases, activated charcoal is introduced in the body, so that it can absorb the remaining intoxicant in the body, bringing the individual back to his normal state. Both of these are to be done within one hour of medical intervention. 

In addition, if there are any respiratory issues, then the person is kept under a mechanical ventilator or breathing tube. Intravenous sodium bicarbonate and different prescriptions may likewise be endorsed to balance the impacts of the medication, and the individual will likewise be kept hydrated with intravenous liquids.

The person is also kept under observation for at least overnight in order to make sure there are no other symptoms such as heart issues, seizures, etc. 

In the end, mental health check-up is done in case of self-poisoning to make sure that such an incident will not be repeated and take further actions. 

If you think you are experiencing an overdose of depression pills, call 911 immediately. You may not know the seriousness of the issue. Therefore, give your doctor every detail that you can, so they can make your situation better. 

Depression pills and suicide 

Depression pills are usually made to make us feel better, by improving our moods and behavior. Most of the time it does its job. However, sometimes especially in teenagers and older adults, it can cause suicidal thoughts.  The FDA necessitates that all antidepressants convey discovery admonitions, which are the strictest alerts for solutions.

An investigation directed in 2010 by the Center for Suicide Research in Oxford, England meant to distinguish which antidepressants were all the more firmly connected to self-destruction or attempt to suicide. They also like the other studies found that TCAs are the most harmful depression pills and have a higher rate of overdose deaths than SSRIs.

Then again, suddenly halting the admission of depression pills can expand the danger of self-destruction by 50% and the danger of attempted suicide by 70%.

Conclusion 

This blog guide has answered the question of Can you overdose on depression pills. In addition, the blog has also looked at what is depression pills, types of depression pills and their rate of overdose, symptoms of an overdose of depression pills, the aftermath of an overdose on depression pills and depression pills, and suicide. 

What we recommend for Depression

Professional counselling

If you are suffering from depression then ongoing professional counselling could be your ideal first point of call. Counselling will utilize theories such as Cognitive behavioural therapy which will help you live a more fulfilling life.

FAQs:  Can you overdose on depression pills? 

References 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325495#summary

https://www.verywellmind.com/can-you-overdose-on-antidepressants-1066859

What Happens If You Overdose on Depression Pills?