Sleeping Potion Overdose
The over-consumption of sleeping potion which causes a slowing of body function, prolonged unconsciousness and in extreme cases, death.
Symptoms
The symptoms may occur over a period of an hour and only be noticed when the casualty fails to wake at a normal hour. The larger the overdose the quicker the symptoms may develop. These include, but are not limited to: vomiting, sometimes bloodstained, impaired consciousness, a sudden uncontrollable wish to sleep, pain or burning sensation. Quite often empty containers in the vicinity will identify the overdose if the symptoms have developed swiftly.
Treatment
Specialis Revelio will reveal the ingredients of the potion consumed if a container is found. Wiggenweld Potion is a healing potion with the power to awaken a person from a magically-induced sleep, and will revive the patient in most cases.
Recovery
The patient will experience nausea (possibly vomiting which can be treated with Vomito Confuto), headaches after being revived. In most cases this will pass within an hour or two, but may take longer in more severe cases.
"The head aches and spinning feeling are normal given the overdose you received. They should ease over time. I can help with the nausea now. Vomito Confuto." - Joy Torret describes the after effects
Going 'cold turkey' after developing a reliance on sleeping potion results in twitching, sweating, nightmares, paranoia, sudden bursts of crying, moodiness and constant stress.
Publicly Available Sleeping Potions
Aconite Tonight
A rather upbeat sounding sleeping potion with purple packaging and golden stars. Available through Drammes Apotheke which includes
- Aconite - for panics on going to bed, fear of sleep, of not waking up
- Arsenicum Album - for restless, meticulous minds that need to be ordered before sleep
- Zincum metallicum - for nerves and restlessness
Alumina Asarum
Individual apothecaries may brew their own variations, but a sleeping potion that treats wakefulness, the interruption of sleep and may include
- Alumina - for frequent waking and waking up in the morning is very hard
- Asarum - for noise sensitivity
- Coffea - those who wake easily and cannot sleep deeply
- Cocculus - (the carer's remedy), for those deprived of sleep by young children etc.
Ignatia Soother
Sold in deep orange packaging only over the counter, a sleeping potion that treats lack of sleep through emotional pain and includes
- Aurum Metallicum - early waking through sadness and depression
- Ignatia - to treat insomnia after a loss, patient sighs and yawns a lot and sleep is difficult to come by and fitful. Twitching, tossing, nightmares.
- Natrum Muriaticum - insomnia after bereavement a slight or loss, feelings of isolation, aggrieved and crying to sleep
- Nitric Acid - wake feeling down and cross and are prickly
Belladonite
Sold in a narrow black bottle, a sleeping potion that treats nightmares and includes:
- Baryta Carb - frequent waking from nightmares
- Belladonna - bad dreams such as falling dreams
Ferventalgor
Packaged in a bright red bottle, a sleeping potion that helps with temperature sensitivity and includes:
- Calcarea carbonica - wake very hot with cold feet
- Hepar Sulph - waking up through changes in temperature
- Silica - sudden waking through anxiety, often hot
- Sulphur - wake with hot feet and too hot overall so they feel itchy and irritable
Lycopodium Essence
A very common sleeping potion in a purple bottle that treats poor unrefreshing sleep and cannot recall dreams. Contains Lycopodium, cheapest of them all to buy, intended for very occasional use.
Nux Vomica
A weak sleeping potion for busy lives - helps to sleep after indulgence in stimulants, food, drink etc. Intended for occasional use.
Somniculose
Brewed by Drammes Apotheke and sold most often in small bottles with 1-2 nights dose. However, larger bottles available if you know how to order it over the counter. Contains Syrup of Hellebore. Was contaminated in December 2010 by Poisons and Painkillers plot.
Restricted Sleeping Potions
Soporime
Contains laudanum (tincture of opium), though the potion has been adapted to make use of the efficient sedative properties. Soporime must be diluted, for example five drops in water to put a wizard to sleep for enough time to reattach a limb. Two bottles would 'put a giant to sleep for a week', or 'stop a normal wizard's heart forever', according to Healer Hannah Bombay. The potion induces a very deep sleep where it can appear those under the influence are almost dead as pulse and breathing slow down. Patients cannot be roused unless a remedy is administered or the effects wear off.
The potion comes in a small distinctive blue bottle, and is held by the St Mungo's apothecary, with the hospital logo printed on the label. There is a dire warning printed on the label of risk of death.
Consumption without dilution causes irritation to the mouth, throat, stomach including internal bleeding and chronic pain due to burns.
Latex Quietus
Ingredients unknown. Must be inhaled and administered by a qualified healer. Head Healer Miranda Elliot administered it to Johann Storm after careful calculation. [1]
A healer must collect the following information to calculate the dosage:
- Weight of patient to the ounce
- Quantities and ingredients of all food consumed in the past day
- Quantity of liquid consumed in the past day
- Whether the patient has vomited recently
- When the patient last excreted
- Whether the patient has unclean thoughts about antelope (established most accurately using legilimency)
Before administering, the healer must clean and shave the patient's inner nose. The patient must then lay down comfortably. The healer draws the liquid using their wand (the wood will glow bright purple) then place beside the left nostril (unless unavailable) and ask the patient to sniff hard. The potion will take effect within moments and induces a peaceful, deep but natural sleep. Patients must come around naturally to avoid uncomfortable side effects.
At Absit Omen
Joy Torret and Arcturus Hollingbury treated Johann Storm for the overdose of sleeping potion in November 2009
