Medical professionals go to great lengths to use only as much force and as much medication as necessary. It is important to remember that whatever the medical staff does, it is to protect the person they are treating. For certain overdoses, other medicine may need to be given either to serve as an antidote to reverse the effects of what was taken or to prevent even more harm from the drug that was initially taken. The doctor will decide if treatment needs to include additional medicines. Some drugs can cause transient damage to certain organ systems.
Improvement is noted first in the hospital and then at home.
However, some overdoses can cause permanent damage to certain organ systems. The liver and the kidneys are 2 organ systems at high risk. Brain damage resulting from suppression of lung and heart function is generally permanent. If the mental health problems that led to an intentional overdose are not addressed, then the person remains at risk for repetitive drug overdoses. Multiple overdoses can have a cumulative effect on some organ systems and lead to injury and organ failure.