The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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Comparative Study
Difficulties in diagnosing narcotic overdoses in hospitalized patients.
To describe the clinical presentation of narcotic overdose in hospitalized patients and to differentiate this circumstance from other conditions often misdiagnosed as overdose. ⋯ Narcotic overdoses in hospitalized patients seldom fit the classic description. The lack of respiratory depression does not mean the absence of a narcotic overdose. Patients who receive narcotics and develop a significant decrease in mental status should be evaluated for a possible overdose. Pulmonary, neurologic, cardiovascular, and electrolyte abnormalities often are misdiagnosed as a narcotic overdose in hospitalized patients.