Health Care Encyclopedia
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Mouthwash overdoseDefinition: This poisoning from an overdose of mouthwash.
Alternative Names: Listerine overdose; Antiseptic mouth rinse overdose
Poisonous Ingredient: - Ethanol (ethyl�alcohol)�
- Methyl salicylate
- Chlorhexidine gluconate
- Hydrogen perioxide
Where Found: Many brands of mouthwash including Listerine, Scope, and Rembrandt. Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Symptoms: - Body as a whole
- Respiratory
- Skin
- Gastrointestinal
- Heart and blood vessels
- Nervous system
Before Calling Emergency: Determine the following: - 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: The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Take the container with you to the emergency room.
What to expect at the emergency room: The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Blood alcohol levels will also be checked. The patient may receive: - Fluids
- Medicines to treat symptoms
- Activated charcoal
- Laxative
- A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)���
- Artificial respiration
- Kidney dialysis
The patient may be admitted to the hospital.
Expectations (prognosis): If the patient survives the first 24 hours without any major problems, survival is very likely.
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| Review Date: 3/17/2006
Reviewed By: Janeen R. Azare, PhD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center, New York, NY. 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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