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Overdose is a condition when a person takes a drug that exceeds the dose recommended by a doctor or does not comply with the instructions for use stated on the drug packaging. To avoid overdosing, there are several things you need to pay attention to when taking medication.

Overdose can occur intentionally, for example due to drug addiction or suicide attempts, but it could also be by accident. For example, accidental overdoses can occur in elderly people who swallow the wrong medicine or take too much medicine.

Apart from that, children or toddlers can also be at high risk of overdosing. This usually happens because they accidentally swallowed medicines around them that were not stored properly or within their reach.

Overdose Symptoms

The overdose symptoms that appear in each person can be different, depending on the type and amount of medication consumed, drug interactions, as well as a history of previous illnesses. In severe cases, the effects of an overdose can be very dangerous for the body, ranging from damaging body organs to causing death. 

However, generally an overdose can cause the following symptoms:

• Digestive disorders, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Stomach ache
• Chest pain
• Dizziness and headaches
• Seizures
• Psychological changes, such as restlessness, anxiety, and hallucinations
• Visual impairment
• Cold sweat
• Pale face and skin
• Body shaking (tremor)
• Decreased consciousness or coma

Various Ways to Prevent Overdose

In order to be used safely and effectively, each drug has its own dosage range and maximum dosage limit. This has been calculated based on several factors, such as the user's age and weight. When a drug is consumed in excess of levels acceptable to the body, an overdose can occur. 

Therefore, to prevent overdose, you should not take medication carelessly or without a doctor's advice, especially if the medication is not an over-the-counter medication. However, there are also several other things that need to be considered to prevent overdoses and drug poisoning, namely:

1. Take the medicine according to the instructions for use

One ​​of the important things to do to prevent an overdose is to take the drug according to the instructions for use. When taking over-the-counter medicines, read and pay attention to the label on the packaging of the medicine you are going to take and use the right measuring device.

In addition, avoid mixing any medications without asking your doctor first and never try to take medications prescribed for someone else. You are also not advised to consume medicines with drinks other than water, such as herbal tea, coffee, alcoholic drinks, or herbal medicines. span style="font-weight: 400;">.

2. Be careful in checking drugs before consuming them

Before taking medication, make sure you always check the integrity of the medication packaging, read the packaging to find out the type and dosage of medication, check the expiration date of the medication, and check the quality of the medication to ensure the smell , color, and shape do not change. 

3. Keep medicines out of reach of children

Unintentional drug overdose is one of the main causes of death in children, especially under 5 years of age. Therefore, if you have children at home, make sure all medicines are stored in a special place that is safe, locked, and out of reach of children.

4. Be careful when giving medication to special groups

If there are elderly family members or adults who experience mental disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia, you need to be careful when giving medication. To prevent them from overdosing, supervise them every time they take medicine.

If possible, you can sort the medicine into several small containers and label them to indicate when to take them. Some medicine containers are also equipped with alarms as a reminder when to take medicine.

Overdose also often occurs in people who frequently use illegal drugs . Therefore, the best way to prevent overdose in this group is to stop using it. Users of illegal drugs should immediately see a doctor to prevent an overdose.

Therefore, if you are taking certain medications that are available freely without a doctor's prescription, you should consult a doctor online via Chat With the Doctor. Next, the doctor will provide information on the correct and appropriate dosage for the medication being consumed, so that you can avoid the possibility of an overdose.

However, if you are already experiencing the symptoms mentioned above. It's best to go to the hospital immediately, so that it can be treated immediately and avoid the more dangerous effects of an overdose.

Before seeing a doctor at the hospital, bring the medication you suspect may have caused the overdose. This can really help doctors to determine the type of drug that caused the patient's overdose. Thus, the doctor may also be able to give an antidote (antidote) to treat an immediate overdose.

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