Health Care Encyclopedia
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Methapyrilene hydrochloride overdoseDefinition: Methapyrilene hydrochloride is an uncommon antihistamine found in cold or flu medicines. It is generally considered non-toxic in small doses, but higher doses or ingestion by a child can be extremely toxic.
Poisonous Ingredient: - methapyrilene hydrochloride
Where Found: - antihistamine medications (older)
Symptoms: - body as a whole
- eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- skin
- heart and blood vessels
- nervous system
Home Treatment: Do not induce vomiting. Seek emergency medical care immediately.
Before Calling Emergency: Determine the following information: - the patient's age, weight, and condition
- the name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
- the time it was swallowed
- the amount swallowed
Poison Control, or a local emergency number: They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the person to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.
What to expect at the emergency room: Some, or all of the following procedures may be performed: - for swallowed poison
- Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach.
- Activated charcoal administration.
- Take a blood sample taken to determine salicylate level in blood
- Give IV fluids.
- Admission to the hospital.
Expectations (prognosis): If the patient survives the first 24 hours, survival is likely. Few patients actually die from an antihistamine overdose.
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| Review Date: 4/16/2004
Reviewed By: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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