MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Meprobamate overdose

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Meprobamate overdose

Contents of this page:
Alternative names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names

Equanil

Definition Return to top

Poisoning from an overdose of meprobamate.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

meprobamate

Where Found Return to top

Equanil
Miltown
Equagesic
Meprogesic

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

body as a whole
respiratory
- labored breathing
- wheezing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- double vision
- blurred vision
- rapid side-to-side movement of the eyes
heart and blood vessels
- slow heart rate
- palpitations
- rapid heart rate
skin
- pinpoint red spots
- bluish colored lips and fingernails
gastrointestinal
- vomiting
nervous system
- drowsiness
- stupor
- coma
- dizziness
- confusion
- excitability
- slurred speech

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

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
it the medication was prescribed for the patient

Poison Control, or a local emergency number Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient 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 Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Induce emesis.
Administer activated charcoal.
Administer a laxative.
Use gastric lavage.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

With proper care, recovery normally occurs (except possibly in patients with aplastic anemia).

Update Date: 2/12/2004

Updated 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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