MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Pheniramine overdose

Skip navigation


Medical Encyclopedia
Other encyclopedia topics:	A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9

Pheniramine overdose

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

Alternative names

Dehistine D; Liqui-Histine; Poly-D; Poly-Histine

Definition Return to top

This poisoning is from an overdose of pheniramine.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Pheniramine

Where Found Return to top

Ru-Tuss with Hydrocodone
Citra Forte
Dehistine D
Liqui-Histine
Poly-D
Poly-Histine

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Body as a whole
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Dilated pupils
Heart and blood vessels
- Rapid heartbeat
Nervous system
- Depression
- Excitation
- Drowsiness
- Nervousness
- Hallucinations
- Disorientation
- Delirium

Home Treatment Return to top

Seek medical care immediately. Call Poison Control. Do not induce vomiting.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed
If the medication was prescribed for the patient

Poison Control, or a local emergency number Return to top

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

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 (gastric lavage)
- Activated charcoal administration
- Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach
- Give IV fluids
- Admission to the hospital
- Give an antidote
- Treat the symptoms
For inhaled poisons
- A breathing tube may need to be inserted
- Oxygen
- Admission to the hospital or to the intensive care unit
- Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down the throat into the airway to evaluate the extent of burns to the airway and lungs)
For skin exposure
- Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days
- Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin)
- Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

If the patient survives the first 24 hours, survival is likely. Few patients actually die from an antihistamine overdose.

Update Date: 1/29/2004

Updated by: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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.