5-Minute Emergency Consult
Opiate Poisoning
Basics
Description
- Bind to μ, κ, and δ opiate receptors in the CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- Physical and psychological dependence occurs with repeated exposure
- Peak plasma levels:
- PO: 1–2 hr
- Intramuscular: 0.5–1 hr
- Intravenous or intranasal: Seconds to minutes
Etiology
- Overuse or abuse of oral prescription analgesics for moderate to severe pain
- Street preparations of opioid analogs may contain adulterants:
- Cocaine
- Xylazine
- Benzodiazepines
- Clenbuterol
- Phencyclidine
- Strychnine
- Dextromethorphan
- Quinine
- Scopolamine
There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.
Citation
Schaider, Jeffrey J., et al., editors. "Opiate Poisoning." 5-Minute Emergency Consult, 7th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2027. Emergency Central, emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/2.1/Opiate_Poisoning_.
Opiate Poisoning. In: Schaider JJJ, Barkin RMR, Hayden SRS, et al, eds. 5-Minute Emergency Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2027. https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/2.1/Opiate_Poisoning_. Accessed June 16, 2026.
Opiate Poisoning. (2027). In Schaider, J. J., Barkin, R. M., Hayden, S. R., Wolfe, R. E., Barkin, A. Z., Shayne, P., & Rosen, P. (Eds.), 5-Minute Emergency Consult (7th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/2.1/Opiate_Poisoning_
Opiate Poisoning [Internet]. In: Schaider JJJ, Barkin RMR, Hayden SRS, et al, eds. 5-Minute Emergency Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2027. [cited 2026 June 16]. Available from: https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/2.1/Opiate_Poisoning_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Opiate Poisoning
ID - 307131
ED - Barkin,Adam Z,
ED - Shayne,Philip,
ED - Rosen,Peter,
ED - Schaider,Jeffrey J,
ED - Barkin,Roger M,
ED - Hayden,Stephen R,
ED - Wolfe,Richard E,
BT - 5-Minute Emergency Consult
UR - https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/2.1/Opiate_Poisoning_
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 7
DB - Emergency Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
