5-Minute Emergency Consult
Opiate Poisoning
Basics
Description
Description
- Bind to μ, κ, and δ opiate receptors in the CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- Physical and psychological dependence occurs
- Peak plasma levels:
- PO: 1–2 hr
- Intramuscular: 0.5–1 hr
- Intravenous or intranasal: Seconds to minutes
Etiology
Etiology
- Overuse or abuse of oral prescription analgesics for moderate to severe pain
- Street preparations of opioid analogs may contain adulterants:
- Cocaine
- Clenbuterol
- Phencyclidine
- Strychnine
- Dextromethorphan
- Quinine
- Scopolamine
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Citation
Schaider, Jeffrey J., et al., editors. "Opiate Poisoning." 5-Minute Emergency Consult, 6th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2020. Emergency Central, emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/all/Opiate_Poisoning.
Opiate Poisoning. In: Schaider JJJ, Barkin RMR, Hayden SRS, et al, eds. 5-Minute Emergency Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2020. https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/all/Opiate_Poisoning. Accessed October 31, 2025.
Opiate Poisoning. (2020). 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 (6th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/all/Opiate_Poisoning
Opiate Poisoning [Internet]. In: Schaider JJJ, Barkin RMR, Hayden SRS, Wolfe RER, Barkin AZA, Shayne PP, Rosen PP, editors. 5-Minute Emergency Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2020. [cited 2025 October 31]. Available from: https://emergency.unboundmedicine.com/emergency/view/5-Minute_Emergency_Consult/307131/all/Opiate_Poisoning.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Opiate Poisoning
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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/all/Opiate_Poisoning
PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ET - 6
DB - Emergency Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
