Health Encyclopedia

Antidiarrheal agent overdose

Definition

Antidiarrheal agents are drugs used to treat loose, watery, and frequent stools. This article discusses overdose of antidiarrheal drugs containing diphenoxylate or atropine.

Alternative Names

Lomotil overdose

Poisonous Ingredient

Diphenoxylate
Atropine

Where Found

Diphenatol
Lofene
Logen
Lomanate
Lomotil
Lonox
Lo-Trol
Nor-Mil

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Coma
Constipation
Delirium
Drowsiness
Dry mouth and skin
Flushing
Loss of desire to do anything
Pinpoint pupils
Rapid heartbeat
Rapid side to side eye movement
Slow breathing

Note: Symptoms may take up to 12 hours to appear.

Home Treatment

Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed
Name of the medication prescribed for the patient

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 United States 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 prescription bottle with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

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. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The patient may receive:

Activated charcoal
Laxative
Narcotic-counteracting drug (antagonist), approximately every 30 minutes
Tube through the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)

Expectations (prognosis)

Most patients will normally recover with treatment and 24 hours of monitoring. However, deaths may occur in young children.

Review Date:10/18/2007
Reviewed By:Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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