What is Nodding Out? Causes & Risks

Opioids are a class of drugs that cause central nervous system (CNS) depression and pain relief.[1] Some opioids like hydrocodone or oxycodone are prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. However, there are illegal forms of opioids like heroin and illegally manufactured fentanyl (IMF).

All forms of opioids are habit-forming and addictive. Because they cause CNS depression, abusing opioids can lead to extreme drowsiness that causes you to fall asleep randomly. This phenomenon is so common that it has been called “nodding off.”

While nodding out might not seem like a big deal, it comes with various risks and dangers. For example, if you nod out while you are driving, you could suffer from a severe car crash. It also increases the risk of experiencing respiratory depression, brain damage, or life-threatening overdoses.

If you frequently abuse an opioid that causes you to nod off, you should seek professional help for addiction. Drug addiction treatment centers can help you achieve long-term sobriety and avoid the dangers of opioid abuse.

In this article, you will learn:

  • What is nodding off?
  • What drugs cause you to nod out?
  • What are the dangers of nodding off?

What is Nodding Out?

Nodding out is a term that people use to describe the effect that opioids have when abused. To explain, opioids depress the central nervous system. In other words, it slows down activity in your brain.

Because the central nervous system is responsible for important functions like breathing and heart rate, using opioids will slow them down. When you abuse a large dose of prescription opioids or a drug like heroin, it affects the CNS by causing you to feel extremely tired.

As a result of this tiredness, you might suddenly fall asleep in a manner that mimics passing out. Your head might suddenly stop supporting itself and “nod” because you are falling asleep. It is almost impossible to stay awake when you are at this level of intoxication.

If you witness someone nodding out, you might notice that their mouth is wide open and their head is tilted back or forward. They might suddenly fall asleep in the middle of a conversation. It is also common for their eyes to roll back or their lids to close.

What Drugs Cause Nodding Off?

Usually, when someone is referring to nodding off, they are talking about being high on heroin. That said, other opioids can cause this side effect as well.

Examples of drugs other than heroin that can cause you to nod out include:

  • Fentanyl
  • Percocet
  • Hydrocodone
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Tramadol
  • Dilaudid
  • Buprenorphine
  • Methadone

To put it simply, any opioid can cause someone to fall asleep suddenly. If someone is taking opioids as prescribed, this usually does not occur. If your loved one is frequently experiencing this, they are likely engaging in substance abuse or suffering from opioid addiction.

Dangers of Nodding Out on Heroin

When you nod off on heroin, that means you are taking a large dose. As a result, there are several dangers you could face.

Some of the risks of nodding out on heroin include:

Injuries and Accidents

Nodding off on heroin means you are suddenly falling asleep. This could happen while you are standing up, causing you to experience a hard fall and an injury. Even worse, you could nod off while you are driving, leading to a vehicular accident.

Some examples of injuries you could experience from nodding off include falling and hitting your head, nodding out while smoking and accidentally starting a fire, or being unable to supervise children in your care.

Respiratory Failure

Whether you nod off on heroin or another type of opioid, the effects of the drug cause suppressed breathing.[2] You could experience shallow or slowed breathing. In severe cases, you might completely stop breathing.

In other words, abusing heroin or another opioid to the point of nodding out can lead to respiratory failure. If you or a loved one is displaying signs of respiratory failure, you should contact emergency medical assistance and begin looking at your treatment options or heroin addiction.

Brain Damage

Opioid drugs that cause you to nod off can prevent the brain from getting enough oxygen.[3] When this occurs repeatedly or long-term, it can lead to significant brain damage. Because of this risk, you should seek help for your opioid addiction from an inpatient addiction treatment center or an outpatient program.

Overdose

Lastly, nodding off on heroin could lead to a life-threatening overdose. This occurs when you take too much heroin for your body to handle. Opioid overdoses require emergency medical assistance to prevent fatal outcomes.

The signs of opioid overdose include:[4]

  • Pale and clammy skin
  • Limpness of the body
  • Purple or blue color to fingernails and lips
  • Unconsciousness and unresponsiveness
  • Vomiting or choking and gurgling noises
  • Slowed or stopped breathing and heartbeat

If someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, contact 911 immediately. If you have Narcan, administering naloxone can prevent the overdose from becoming fatal. That said, the individual will still require treatment from a hospital.

Find Help for Heroin Abuse and Addiction

If you or a loved one suffers from heroin addiction, you are probably familiar with nodding off. While nodding off seems normal among heroin users, it can lead to a wide range of risks. To avoid the dangers associated with heroin abuse, you should seek help from a professional drug rehab program.

New You Sober Living can connect you with a reputable heroin addiction treatment center. Once you complete treatment, you can transfer into our sober living program. Our program is designed to help ease the transition from treatment to independent living.

Contact us today to learn more about recovering from heroin and opioid addiction.

References:

  1. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Opioids 
  2. Science Direct: Undetected Respiratory Depression in People with Opioid Use Disorder
  3. Frontiers in Psychiatry: Brain oxygen responses induced by opioids: focus on heroin, fentanyl, and their adulterants
  4. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Preventing, Recognizing, and Treating Opioid Overdose
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