Health Encyclopedia

Cardiac glycoside overdose

Definition

Cardiac glycosides are a class of medications used to treat heart failure. Cardiac glycoside overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medication.

Alternative Names

Digoxin overdose; Digitoxin overdose; Lanoxin overdose; Purgoxin overdose; Allocar overdose; Corramedan overdose; Crystodigin overdose

Poisonous Ingredient

Cardiac glycoside is a chemical that has effects on the heart, stomach, intestines, and nervous system. It is the active ingredient in many different heart medicines. It can be poisonous if taken in large amounts.

Where Found

Cardiac glycosides are the main (active) ingredients in certain prescription medicines, including:

Deslanoside (cedilanin-D)
Digitoxin (Crystodigin)
Digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin)

Cardiac glycosides also occur naturally in certain plants. For information on poisoning from such plants, see:

Note: This list may not be all-inclusive.

Symptoms

Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Blurred vision
- Halos around objects (yellow, green, white) *
Skin
- Allergic reaction (see: Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
- Hives
- Rash
Gastrointestinal
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite*
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
Heart and blood
- Irregular heartbeat (or slow)
- Weakness
Nervous system
- Confusion
- Depression*
- Disorientation
- Drowsiness
- Fainting
- Hallucinations*
- Headache
- Lethargy
Psychological system
- Apathy (not caring what happens)

* These symptoms are usually only seen with chronic overdose cases.

Home Treatment

Do not make the person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care provider.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
Time it was swallowed
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 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 container 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 your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

Activated charcoal
EKG
Blood tests to check digitalis, magnesium, and potassium levels
Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effects of the overdose
Methods to correct electrolyte (potassium, magnesium) imbalances
Tube through the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)

Expectations (prognosis)

The greatest risk of death and bad outcomes are seen in young children and older adults. Older persons are especially likely to suffer from problems of chronic (long-term) cardiac glycoside poisoning.

Review Date:1/23/2008
Reviewed By:Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

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