Can you overdose on a prescribed dose?

[Ian Gentles]

Last night took two pills that help sleep. I ususaly take one, but am allowed two, so took two as wanted to sleep good. Well could hardly get up stairs, had to collapse on bed to rest before i could undress, hadnt the strenth. So I am wondering, can you actualy kinda overdose on prescribed amounts with some meds? Trust me, it was an awfull dibillitating experiance. In end slept for 12 hours, not what i intended!

[Gary Swartzlander]

I'm guessing you can. Even though you are allowed 2 of the pills, if you had only been taking one of them and suddenly take 2, the added drugs may have been to much for your system or the added effects of the second pill were just more than you anticipated. I'd call the doctors office or drugist for further instructions.

[Tami Martin]

Of course you can. Doctors prescribe the wrong dose all the time and people do die from it.

However, perhaps you took a prescription sleeping pill that had a much quicker reaction time than an over the counter one might. I can take an OTC sleeping pill and have it take up to two hours to begin to make me drowsy. But a Remaron (actually an antidepressant but which knocked me out for three WHOLE DAYS) or an Ambien will take less than half an hour to kick in.

A good friend of mine had that experience. She was used to the OTC stuff and took an Ambien. Her husband had to carry her from the hallway where she'd passed out and put her in bed!

[Ian Gentles]

I also think, my system being so low, been sick for days, might not have helped.

[Alisa Stoll]

Some people have a low tolerance to certain drugs. It could very well be that between a natural low tolerance and sickness combined to make it overly powerful. While my mom has a prescription for pain pills for her back, she knows that due to low tolerance she either takes half a pill (if she wants to function) or takes a whole pill on her way to bed. But her dosage is "standard" for those similar to her.

Alisa

[Mike Wooldridge]

A good friend of mine had that experience. She was used to the OTC stuff and took an Ambien. Her husband had to carry her from the hallway where she'd passed out and put her in bed!
That happened to my aunt, too. Ambien apparently works very quickly and very well.

[Ian Gentles]

Then wont try Ambian thats for sure. I wasnt so much knocked out, though i was, it made me feel awful. Will stick to one tonight, even if i dont sleep well!

[Ian Gentles]

Interestingly they now saying that the actor Ledger, died of a combination of prescribed drugs!

[Rhonda White]

Yes, you can, and it's hard to tell with sleeping pills. Believe me, I have narcolepsy, so I take a HARDCORE medicine to make me go into REM (which is what narcolepsy is--a disruption of the normal sleep cycle, so you fall asleep unwillingly), so I know about sleeping meds. Also, when you take two meds together, maybe not even sleeping pills, and those have a bad reaction, you can become heavily sedated. Think back if you took any other medicine that day that could've been in your system. Or, 2 pills may be way too much for you. Either way, I doubt you want to be knocked out so hard you can't move. Call your pharmacist and/or doctor if you can't sleep with one, but 2 is too much. I feel for ya!

[Ian Gentles]

Yes, you can, and it's hard to tell with sleeping pills. Believe me, I have narcolepsy, so I take a HARDCORE medicine to make me go into REM (which is what narcolepsy is--a disruption of the normal sleep cycle, so you fall asleep unwillingly), so I know about sleeping meds. Also, when you take two meds together, maybe not even sleeping pills, and those have a bad reaction, you can become heavily sedated. Think back if you took any other medicine that day that could've been in your system. Or, 2 pills may be way too much for you. Either way, I doubt you want to be knocked out so hard you can't move. Call your pharmacist and/or doctor if you can't sleep with one, but 2 is too much. I feel for ya!

Took anti depressant meds, but never been a problem before

[Billie Goodson]

Ian, the answer has got to be yes. That is why most drugs come with all kinds of warnings about side-effects and cautions -- such as do not take and operate machinery, while the medication denies that it does causes drowsiness.

The advice of Paul seems to apply here -- while it may be permissible to take two -- that should be avoided to keep the brother from stumbing!

As an aside, when you see some commercials on television -- they list the side effects possible. Does it ever make you wonder why you would take a medication that has side effects greater than the condition for which you are being treated?

Example:

Medication for toenail discoloration
Side effects: Hair loss, sudden loss of vision or eyeball, dementia, excessive bleeding from ears, etc....

Would you take the med?

[Gina Stevenson]

As an aside, when you see some commercials on television -- they list the side effects possible. Does it ever make you wonder why you would take a medication that has side effects greater than the condition for which you are being treated?

Example:

Medication for toenail discoloration
Side effects: Hair loss, sudden loss of vision or eyeball, dementia, excessive bleeding from ears, etc....

Would you take the med?


Billie your aside is a pet peeve of mine ... I don't call them commercials, I call it drug-pushing! yet, most drug pushers don't hand out warnings with their drugs. It should scare people away, yet it seems that our culture (not all, but many) has been so acclimated to the idea that drugs are those wonders that will solve anything/everything, that I'd bet that often people's ears are rather deaf to those warnings, while they push/advertise the allegedly benefits.

Yes, as a disclaimer, I have to say that some people need (what I would hope would be) temporary help while getting things under control, but often have heard people who say, "I went to the doc for this or that, and he gave me this or that." Then awhile later, they go for something else, and before you know it, they've a half dozen things they're taking, becoming rather medicated/drugged up. [know some will not appreciate this, but drugs are something I tend to avoid]

[Terri Knoll]

you have been sick too Ian so drugs will act stronger. Heath was ailing from pneumonia and probably couldn't sleep either. Hence his demise...so sad.

Elvis had a similar occurance. You need to sleep, and even tho you didn't like that you went out so fast, if one doesn't do it for you and you are prescribed up to 2 take them. (you said you got 12 hours sleep, woohoo) don't worry about od'ing if you get the desired effect. but of course don't mix drugs without your doctors consent.

I had a similar occurance a couple years ago of taking the prescribed 2 sleeping pills (trazadone) that freaked my family out...I was out in seconds...way out...woke up fine the next morning, and the best sleep I ever had. I don't take them anymore because of that. I learned from that day to be ready to go to bed if I take any sleeping aid...don't try to stay up...sleep, drink lots of fluids the next day, eat lots of fruit! Natural sugar is so healing. But if you need sleep...sleep!
I agree with everyone that says tell your doctor...that's the first defense.

[Barbara Moulton]

I also think, my system being so low, been sick for days, might not have helped.

Didn't you say you had hardly eaten anything in a week as well? If you took two pills when you had only been taking one on a relatively empty stomach I'm not surprised you had a reaction.