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Warning-sign checks

Amitriptyline hydrochloride overdose: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    After emergency treatment, monitoring continues until the person's symptoms, blood pressure, mental state, and ECG are stable.

    A clinician determines when it is safe to stop hospital monitoring.

    Seek emergency help after discharge for a seizure, fainting, severe confusion, difficulty breathing, inability to wake, chest pain, or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

    If there is immediate danger or a possible overdose has already occurred, call emergency services instead.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
  2. 2

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    A suspected overdose should not be managed through routine home observation unless a poison center or medical professional specifically advises it.

    After discharge, routine follow-up may include reviewing all medicines, checking for ongoing side effects, and discussing how to prevent another dosing error.

    Medicines should be stored in their original labeled containers and kept securely away from children and anyone for whom they were not prescribed.

    Follow-up may include a safety plan, counseling, support from trusted people, and review of how medicines are stored or supplied.

    This is intended to support recovery rather than assign blame.

    Mild tiredness or questions about restarting regular medicines can usually be discussed through routine follow-up, but amitriptyline should not be restarted, stopped, or changed without guidance from the prescribing clinician.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • is having side effects from a medicine, or is struggling to take it as prescribed

The article also says

If the overdose may have been intentional, a mental health assessment is an important part of care.

Anyone having thoughts of suicide or self-harm should seek immediate support.

In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Amitriptyline hydrochloride overdose. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.