In an emergency
Poison Control (US)1-800-222-1222Fireside Project62-FIRESIDE
Overdose signs
- Chest pain; racing, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Very high body temperature; heavy sweating; hot, flushed skin
- Severe agitation, paranoia, panic, or confusion
- Severe headache; muscle rigidity or twitching
- Seizures
- Signs of stroke — face drooping, one-sided weakness, slurred speech
- Difficulty breathing; collapse or unconsciousness
First response
- Call emergency services for chest pain, overheating, seizure, or unresponsiveness
- Move them to a cool, quiet place and reduce stimulation
- Cool the body — remove excess clothing, apply cool damp cloths, fan them
- Keep them calm; reassure — panic worsens the cardiovascular strain
- If seizing, protect from injury (don't restrain); recovery position afterward
- Monitor breathing and be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR
For the medical team
Tell the dispatcher: stimulant suspected, what was taken, how much, and when, plus the key symptoms (chest pain, high temperature, seizures). Overheating and cardiac events (arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke) are the main dangers. Medics may use benzodiazepines for agitation/seizures and active cooling.
Resolution
Most stimulant overdoses settle with cooling, a calm environment, and time. The medical danger is hyperthermia, cardiac events (arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke), and seizures — get help immediately if any appear.