Sumu ya Kuzidi Kipimo

Overdose toxicity refers to serious, often harmful, and sometimes fatal toxic reactions to an accidental overdose of a medication (because of an error on the part of the doctor, pharmacist, or person taking the medication) or to an intentional overdose (homicide or suicide).

A lower risk of overdose toxicity is often the reason doctors prefer one medication to another when both medications are equally effective. For example, if a sedative, antianxiety medication or sleep aid is needed, doctors prescribe benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and temazepam, rather than barbiturates, such as phenobarbital. Benzodiazepines are not more effective than barbiturates, but they have a wider margin of safety and are much less likely to cause severe toxicity in case of an accidental or intentional overdose. Safety is also the reason that newer antidepressants, such as fluoxetine and paroxetine, have largely replaced older but equally effective antidepressants, such as imipramine and amitriptyline (see table Drugs Used to Treat Depression).

Young children are at high risk of overdose toxicity. Brightly colored tablets and capsules, most of which are adult-dose formulations, can attract the attention of toddlers and young children. In the United States, federal regulations require that all prescription medications taken by mouth be dispensed in childproof containers unless a person signs a waiver to the effect that such a container presents a handicap.

Most metropolitan areas in the United States have poison control centers that provide information about chemical and drug poisoning, and most telephone directories list the number of the local center. This number should be copied and placed near a telephone or programmed into an automatic-dialing telephone or cellular phone.

(See also Overview of Adverse Drug Reactions.)