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What Causes Unconsciousness After Taking Prescription Medication?
Question: one of the side effect for my daughter's prescription is becoming unconscious so if it is a sleeping pill how are you able t tell if that happens and if it does what measures do i take
Brief Answer:
by watching her
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
"becoming unconscious" is actually the intended effect of a sleeping pill! Despite that there could be a potential problem with becoming unconscious which may be related to a respiratory drive and diminished oxygen saturation in the blood. The only feasible way to find out is by watching her. You can count the number of respiratory movements per minute and evaluate how deep (or shallow) they are. For example the normal breath rate ranges between 12-20 per minute. 14 is a very common value. If her breath rate is low (8 for example) then it could be a side effect of the drugs. If you have a pulse oxymeter then you can also check the oxygen saturation which is a very good way to assess her respiratory system efficacy.
If her breath rate becomes too low and her oxygen is low too, then she'll have to be transferred to the emergency room. This is not an expected side effect though for a sleeping pill unless she abuses them or she already takes a lot of central nervous system suppressants. And even if she does take a lot, the addition of a single sleeping pill is rather unlikely to cause a huge difference. You'd better discuss it with the only person who knows her medical history and current condition, her treating doctor.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
by watching her
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
"becoming unconscious" is actually the intended effect of a sleeping pill! Despite that there could be a potential problem with becoming unconscious which may be related to a respiratory drive and diminished oxygen saturation in the blood. The only feasible way to find out is by watching her. You can count the number of respiratory movements per minute and evaluate how deep (or shallow) they are. For example the normal breath rate ranges between 12-20 per minute. 14 is a very common value. If her breath rate is low (8 for example) then it could be a side effect of the drugs. If you have a pulse oxymeter then you can also check the oxygen saturation which is a very good way to assess her respiratory system efficacy.
If her breath rate becomes too low and her oxygen is low too, then she'll have to be transferred to the emergency room. This is not an expected side effect though for a sleeping pill unless she abuses them or she already takes a lot of central nervous system suppressants. And even if she does take a lot, the addition of a single sleeping pill is rather unlikely to cause a huge difference. You'd better discuss it with the only person who knows her medical history and current condition, her treating doctor.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you for your reply i feel much better now knowing that much she's already had a very difficult time of it with her being misdiagnosed for the last 5 yrs
Brief Answer:
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
A correction please. When I was talking about "respiratory drive", I really meant "low respiratory drive". "Low" was somehow lost in typing!
Anyway... always glad to help!
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
A correction please. When I was talking about "respiratory drive", I really meant "low respiratory drive". "Low" was somehow lost in typing!
Anyway... always glad to help!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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