ABSTRACT
Opiates include natural alkaloids and synthetic derivates. Their pharmacologic effects are based on bounding opiate receptors. Peak toxic and therapeutic effect of opiate is 90 minutes after oral administration. Acute presentations of opiate poisoning are CNS, respiratory and Gl involvements. In long term, opiate can change numbers and sensitivity of their receptors, and result in tolerance or withdrawal syndrome. In opiate over dosage, morbidity and mortality decrease with careful therapeutic and supportive managements. Study of frequency distribution of opiate poisoning according to individual characteristics and clinical manifestations are the main objectives of recent investigation. in this retrospective descriptive study, 2520 patients were enrolled in 2001-2002. Information including demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects was collected. 263 cases of 2520 [10.4%] were poisoned with opiates. The most frequent age group was 21-30 years old [38.3%] and the most common hospital stay was 1-7 days [55.8%]. The males were more poisoned than female [71.4%] and respiratory support was used for 29 patients [18%]. Poisoning route was often [68.8%] by ingestion [181 cases]. The most common clinical presentation was CNS involvement [74.1%]. The most common type of used narcotic substances was opium [60.4%]. Mortality rate was 4.5% [12 cases]. Opiate poisoning can result in morbidity and mortality. Complications were more among those who referred to hospital with delay or used high dose or potent agents. The main cause of mortality in opiate overdose was hypoxia with respiratory depression