how does overdosing on sleeping pills kill the body?

Question

what exactly happens to someone's body when they overdose on sleeping pills?

and also, does this put a lot of pain on the person?

Answer 1

An overdose of any narcotic will supress the respiratory center in the brain causing the respiratory rate to get progressively slower until there is no longer the ability to breathe. Severe and permanent brain damage from lack of oxygen results within 5-7 minutes. Many who are revived after the brain damage has occurred live in a vegatative state for many years.

Answer 2

First this information is provided for educational purposes only - this is not intended to provide an exhaustive explanation or any guide to treatment. If you are contemplating suicide, please seek expert medical advice or contact a suicide hot-line (1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-784-2433 or http://suicidehotlines.com). Do not try to "go it alone" they can help. Most people who survive suicide attempts later regret their attempts.

Most commonly available sleep aids (over the counter) are simply the antihistime benadryl (diphenhydramine). They are not as dangerous as prescription sleep aids (hence its availability OTC). Overdose signs and symptoms can be found it the reference below. Some drugs like tylenol pm have (obviously) tylenol which can cause liver failure and death in larger doses.

There are two major classes of prescription sleep aids, the benzodiazepams (BZDs) and the non-benzo's.

BZD can kill by supressing the natural respiratory drive and inducing a stupor. They can be treated with a competitive antogonist (a drug that competes for the targets binding site, but does not actually cause an effect) called flumazinil.

The newer classes are not BZD based, but many are still classified as sedatives. They do not appear as dangerous as BZDs, but can still be lethal. Treatment is likely supportive.

Regardless of the specific drug used, many people die because they go into a light to deep coma and can no longer protect their airway - this can result in the tongue occluding the airway (they suffocate) or the vomit and aspirate (draw the vomittus into the airway) and die of chemical pneumonia days to weeks after they are treated for the acute overdose. There is also the possibility of associated trauma due to such things as operativing a motor vehicle while under the influence of such drugs (both unwise and illegal)

Answer 3

Most often the mechanism is respiratory depression. The person's too drunk to remember to breathe. If they're successful and fortunate in a suicide attempt, they may drift off into a peaceful sleep and not wake up. but that's both theoretical and unlikely. More likely, they'll experience some quite uncomfortable air hunger and if found will eventually wake up with an endotracheal tube in their throats on mechanical ventilation with perhaps some anoxic brain damage. Not pleasant.

Answer 4

when you say sleeping pills, a more specific definition would better help answer your question. Benzodiazepines, i assume your speaking of, are almost impossible to O.D. and die from. IF TAKEN ALONE, that is. Once you combine alcohol with any benzo, you completely drop that LD50 to almost nothing. LD50 for most benzos are much higher than a given amount for a monthly prescription. Do some research and you'll see, sleeping pills (benzos) arent as dangerous as they are made out to be. Almost all deaths associated with them also have alcohol in the equation. Extremely dangerous combo.

Answer 5

If you are thinking of doing this then you need to seek the help of a friend, counselor or family member! Death is a forever thing and hurts those around you!

*********Attention*************
Edited to add that the person asking this question is only 15 years old.
A question like this scares me coming from someone so young.

Please take this question serious.

Answer 6

You stop breathing, it suppresses the automatic processes.

Answer 7

you fall in so deep sleep (coma) that you never wake up...
don't try this at home, this is very very dangerous!

Answer 8

it shuts off your brain....... THE BODY'S CONTROL CENTER....
TAKE TOO MANY, GO NIGHT NIGHT, YOU STOP BREATHING, THEN YOU ARE DEAD.