Meaning & use
barbiturate overdose
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Meanings
nouncountablemedical
A dangerous condition caused by taking too much of a sedative drug made from barbituric acid, which can stop breathing.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a barbiturate overdose' or 'two barbiturate overdoses'.
Patterns
- a barbiturate overdose
- die from a barbiturate overdose
- treat a barbiturate overdose
The patient was rushed to hospital after a barbiturate overdose.
Barbiturate overdose was once a common method of suicide, but safer drugs are now prescribed.
Doctors treated the barbiturate overdose with breathing support and fluids.
nouncountablemedical
An amount of barbiturate drugs that is too large and likely to cause serious harm or death.
Grammar: Used when talking about the dose itself rather than the medical event: 'She took a barbiturate overdose.'
Patterns
- take a barbiturate overdose
- a lethal barbiturate overdose
He accidentally took a barbiturate overdose because he forgot he had already taken his pills.
A barbiturate overdose can slow breathing to a dangerous level within minutes.
Word forms
| plural | barbiturate overdoses |
|---|
Common combinations
- fatal barbiturate overdose
- The cause of death was recorded as a fatal barbiturate overdose.
- survive a barbiturate overdose
- She was lucky to survive a barbiturate overdose after being found unconscious.
- barbiturate overdose treatment
- Barbiturate overdose treatment often requires intensive care.
- risk of barbiturate overdose
- Mixing alcohol with these pills increases the risk of barbiturate overdose.
Synonyms and how they differ
- barbiturate poisoning
- Similar meaning, but 'poisoning' emphasizes the toxic effect on the body rather than the amount taken.
- sedative overdose
- A broader term that includes other sedatives, not just barbiturates.
Word family
- barbiturate noun
- A drug made from barbituric acid, used to calm or sedate.
- overdose noun
- An amount of a drug that is too large and dangerous.
Commonly confused: barbiturate overdose or overdose?
barbiturate overdose vs overdose
On its own, 'overdose' can refer to any drug; 'barbiturate overdose' specifies the type of drug.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'barbiturate overdose' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 uses the term correctly for a serious medical event. Option 1 is wrong because aspirin is not a barbiturate. Option 2 is wrong because an overdose is serious, not just 'a little sleepy'. Option 3 is wrong because barbiturates sedate, not wake up.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “barbiturate overdose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.