What's the difference between 'overdose' and 'overmedicate' in regards to medication?

Question

What's the difference between 'overdose' and 'overmedicate' in regards to medication?

Answer 1

"overdose" is used when a person takes too much medication on his own and it becomes fatal or causes adverse reactions. "overmedicated" is when a person is using too many types of medications OR you accidently gives the wrong amount of dose to someone you been taking care of, but you didnt mean.

Answer 2

My understanding of it is that 'overdose' means an amount greater than a normal therapeutic dose (and probably high enough to have potential toxic effects). So if a particular drug is usually given in doses of 10-40mg per day and someone took (or was given) 200mg, then that's an overdose. 'Overmedicated' would be if someone is taking more medication than they personally need. For example if someone is prescribed 40mg per day but they could get the same benefit from half the dose, then they don't need to be taking so much and they are overmedicated. Overmedicated can also mean if someone is taking many different types of medication, for example several drugs all prescribed to treat the same condition.