MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Oleander

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Oleander

Contents of this page:
Illustrations 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)

Illustrations

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Alternative names Return to top

Common oleander; Rosebay

Definition Return to top

Poisoning from sucking nectar from the flowers, chewing leaves, using the branches as skewers to roast meat, or from honey made by bees using the oleander plant for nectar.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

neriin
oleondroside
oleandrin

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found Return to top

twigs, leaves, and flowers of the oleander plant

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

body as a whole
- weakness
- dizziness
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- blurred vision
- halos around objects (yellow, green, white) *
skin
- rash
- hives
gastrointestinal
- loss of appetite *
- vomiting or nausea
- abdominal pain (lower stomach)
- diarrhea
heart and blood vessels
- irregular or slow heartbeat
- low blood pressure
nervous system
- drowsiness
- confusion
- depression *
- headache
- fainting
- lethargy
- disorientation
- death

*Usually only seen in chronic overdose

Home Treatment Return to top

Call Poison Control.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the plant
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed

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 or plant 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 vomiting
administer activated charcoal
gastric lavage
monitor vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, and so forth)
monitor EKG (monitors heart function)
blood samples drawn to determine:
- serum magnesium level
- serum potassium levels
administration of antidote and other medication to correct problems resulting from the overdose if needed
correction of electrolyte (potassium, magnesium) imbalances

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

If the individual survives the first 24 hours their chances of survival are very good.

Update Date: 2/23/2004

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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