Opioids overdose effects in the Genetic Environment
The 27-year-old patient having an overdose of opioids hyperkalemia disorder can result in many complications. The normal potassium levels are about 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L for adults (Dépret et al., 32). For children, it ranges between 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L in the blood. If the potassium levels go below 3.5 or exceed six, then the person is not safe. They need attention from medical professionals. The interaction with opioids makes the opioid receptors on the nerve cells in the brain and body react. The regular use of the substance may result in dependence. They produce euphoria, which many attributes to the dependence. However, if the overdose exceeds naloxone is given, which promotes responsiveness in irresponsive patients. Other symptoms with the patient may result from excess potassium due to an overdose of substance abuse, including irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, and weak pulse.
Notably, naloxone medication has an opioid antagonist; hence binding to opioid receptors can reverse other opioids (Guy et al., 679). Examples of opioids include morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. When a patient shows signs of opioid overdose, naloxone is administered as a temporary treatment. However, its effects last just for a while and then disappears. Consequently, a patient needs to get medical intervention immediately after receiving naloxone. There are various ways of administering the medication; one is through the nose, under the skin, and muscles.
Substance abuse can result in genetic effects (Al-Eitan et al., 733). Opioids can bind opioids receptors. They include delta(δ), kappa (k), and mu (μ) receptors. Consequently, it affects the transmission of the neural signal. The peripheral and central nervous systems contain the receptors. Distribution occurs throughout the brain with varying concentrations. Receptors are mostly found in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), caudate-putamen (cp), and the amygdala. Hence the overdose of the substance may affect genetics. Hence opioid overdose history can be evident as a result of the genetic alteration.
Work cited
Dépret, François, et al. “Management of hyperkalemia in the acutely ill patient.” Annals of intensive care 9.1 (2019): 32.
Guy Jr, Gery P., et al. “Vital signs: pharmacy-based naloxone dispensing—United States, 2012–2018.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 68.31 (2019): 679.
Al-Eitan, Laith N., Kareem M. Alshudaifat, and Jamal Y. Anani. “Association of the DRD4 exon III and 5-HTTLPR VNTR polymorphisms with substance abuse in Jordanian Arab population.” Gene 733 (2020): 144267.