Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison01:14

Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison

1.4K
In cases of acute poisoning, the primary objective is to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance into the body. Immediate interventions using various decontamination techniques targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can achieve this. Decontamination is crucial to prevent poison from entering the systemic circulation, which involves washing affected areas with water and mild soap and removing contaminated clothing. Once external decontamination is done, attention must be turned to...
1.4K
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

1.6K
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
1.6K
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

1.5K
Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
1.5K
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis01:30

Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis

1.1K
Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or those experiencing drug overdose often require extracorporeal methods to eliminate accumulated drugs and metabolites. Hemoperfusion, hemofiltration, and dialysis are the primary techniques to rapidly remove harmful substances without disrupting the patient's fluid and electrolyte balance. For those with compromised renal function, dosage adjustments of concurrent medications may be necessary during extracorporeal drug removal.Dialysis is a process...
1.1K
Toxidromes: Clinical Features01:30

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

175
Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
175
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies

279
Treatment strategies for poisoning are a critical aspect of emergency medicine, focusing on preventing the absorption of toxins and enhancing their elimination. When a poisoning incident occurs, the first response is to halt exposure and decontaminate the patient, particularly through gastrointestinal (GI) methods if the poison was ingested.Gastrointestinal Decontamination Techniques:Activated charcoal is the cornerstone of GI decontamination. It works through adsorption, binding the toxin to...
279

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Heroin-related noncardiogenic pulmonary edema : a case series.

Chest·2001
Same author

Taking care of our patients.

Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·2001
Same author

Clinical course of gamma-hydroxybutyrate overdose.

Annals of emergency medicine·1998
Same author

Clinical course of crack cocaine body stuffers.

Annals of emergency medicine·1997
Same author

Acetaminophen and salicylate serum levels in patients with suicidal ingestion or altered mental status.

The American journal of emergency medicine·1996
Same author

Out-of-hospital treatment of opioid overdoses in an urban setting.

Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·1996
Same journal

Correction to I.M. Matters News: Sleep medicine for seniors.

Annals of internal medicine·2026
Same journal

Adverse Events After Same-Day COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination Versus Influenza Vaccination Alone : A Target Trial Emulation.

Annals of internal medicine·2026
Same journal

Leveraging Real-World Evidence to Inform Regulatory, Clinical, and Coverage Decisions Related to Glucagon-Like Peptide-1-Based Therapies: Synopsis of a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Workshop.

Annals of internal medicine·2026
Same journal

Methodological Approaches to Real-World Evidence Generation for Glucagon-like Peptide-1-Based Therapies: Synopsis of a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Workshop.

Annals of internal medicine·2026
Same journal

Weekly and Biweekly Treatment With Bofanglutide Versus Semaglutide in Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes : A Phase 2b Randomized Clinical Trial.

Annals of internal medicine·2026
Same journal

Grappling with GLP-1 prescribing.

Annals of internal medicine·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats
10:35

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats

Published on: November 12, 2013

10.8K

Acute heroin overdose.

K A Sporer1

  • 1Emergency Services, San Francisco General Hospital, CA 94110, USA.

Annals of Internal Medicine
|April 3, 1999
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Acute heroin overdose is a common cause of preventable deaths in the US. Recognizing overdose symptoms and prompt naloxone treatment are crucial for survival, with methadone maintenance showing preventive benefits.

More Related Videos

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
10:17

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 23, 2019

11.3K
A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
08:05

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence

Published on: March 23, 2022

2.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 5, 2026

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats
10:35

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats

Published on: November 12, 2013

10.8K
High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
10:17

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 23, 2019

11.3K
A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
08:05

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence

Published on: March 23, 2022

2.3K

Area of Science:

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Acute heroin overdose is a frequent, preventable cause of death in the United States.
  • Heroin's rapid CNS absorption causes its characteristic euphoric and toxic effects.
  • Overdoses often occur in social settings and are frequently associated with co-ingestion of other substances.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical presentation and management of acute heroin overdose.
  • To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the heroin overdose syndrome.
  • To identify effective preventive strategies for heroin-related deaths.

Main Methods:

  • The study describes the clinical features of heroin overdose, including mental status changes, respiratory depression, and pupillary response.
  • Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for heroin overdose syndrome were assessed.
  • Treatment protocols involving airway management and naloxone administration were reviewed.
  • The efficacy of methadone maintenance as a preventive measure was considered.

Main Results:

  • The heroin overdose syndrome (abnormal mental status, decreased respiration, miotic pupils) has a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 76%.
  • Naloxone administration does not enhance diagnostic sensitivity.
  • Heroin-related deaths are strongly linked to concurrent alcohol or other drug use.
  • Approximately 3-7% of treated patients require hospitalization for complications like pneumonia or pulmonary edema.

Conclusions:

  • Prompt recognition of heroin overdose symptoms and administration of naloxone are vital for patient management.
  • Hospital observation is necessary to monitor for potential respiratory complications.
  • Methadone maintenance therapy is an effective strategy for preventing heroin overdose and related mortality.