Meth Overdose

Methamphetamine, also referred to as "meth" is a stimulant chemically related to amphetamine but with stronger effects on the central nervous system. Common street names include "Speed," "Meth," "Crystal," and "Crank". Methamphetamine stimulant effects can last anywhere from 8 to 24 hours. Similar to cocaine, meth is a powerful "upper" that produces alertness and elation, along with a variety of adverse reactions. It is a highly dangerous and addictive drug with a very high risk of mortality associated with its use.

A meth overdose is when the body is saturated with a large amount of the drug. A lethal dose of meth can vary from person to person, as each person has a different sensitivity to a specific amount of meth. An individual can experience a meth overdose at relatively low levels of the drug (50 milligrams of pure Meth for a non-tolerant user). There is really no way to determine a "safe" level of meth use because each person's metabolic rates are different and the strength of the drug varies batch to batch. A meth overdose may also occur if the individual has combined meth with other illicit or prescription drugs.

Unlike other drug overdoses, a meth overdose produces no immediate signs to users. An individual may consume a lethal dose and not even realize it until it is much too late. Symptoms of a meth overdose are characterized by a rapid onset of physiological deterioration which eventually leads to a heart attack or stroke. Because this can happen so quickly and without warning, death proceeds suddenly and unexpectedly. The effects of meth use on the sympathetic nervous system including increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and vascular constriction can affect many organ systems. This can also cause heart problems, stroke, and acute kidney failure.

One of the life-threatening complications of meth use is intense dehydration and fever, which can be fatal. The body uses its energy for bodily functions, and some energy is also released as heat which the body fights by sweating. This explains the profuse sweating which can happen in the event of a meth overdose. The fluids needed to produce the sweat are totally depleted, causing dehydration. Because the body doesn't have an effective way to release the heat, this produces a dangerous rise in body temperature which can result in death.

The severity of meth overdose signs and symptoms indicate how acute the overdose is, with severe progression of symptoms which could result in death. Individuals with less acute signs and symptoms of a meth overdose of meth may experience profuse sweating, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and dilated pupils. These meth overdose symptoms are all associated with stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Common signs and symptoms of a meth overdose include:

• Aggressiveness
• Changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• Coma
• Confusion
• Fast breathing
• Fever
• Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there)
• High blood pressure or low blood pressure
• Hyperactivity (trouble sitting still)
• Muscle pains
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Seizures
• Shakiness