MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Nicotine

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

Nicotine

Contents of this page:
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)

Definition

Poisoning from an overdose of nicotine.

Poisonous Ingredient

Nicotine

Where Found

Animal tranquilizers
Some brands of insecticide
Tobacco leaves
Cigarettes
Chewing tobacco
Pipe tobacco
Nicotine gum (Nicorette)
Nicotine-transdermal-patches (Habitrol, Nicoderm)

Note: This list may not be all-inclusive.

Symptoms

Muscular twitching
Weakness
Convulsions
Coma
Fainting
Difficulty breathing
Rapid breathing
No breathing
Abdominal cramps
Vomiting
Drooling (increased salivation)
Burning sensation in mouth
Rapid and pounding heartbeat followed by slow heart rate
Elevated blood pressure followed by decreased blood pressure
Confusion
Depression
Headache
Agitation, restlessness, or excitement

Home Treatment

Seek emergency medical care immediately. Call Poison Control. You may be instructed to INDUCE VOMITING.

If there is skin exposure, wash the area well with soap and water.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
When it was swallowed or inhaled
The amount swallowed or inhaled

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

See poison control centers for the national telephone number. Take any containers with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

May administer activated charcoal.
May administer a laxative.
May use gastric lavage (pump the stomach).
Will treat other symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)

Overdose may cause seizures. Recovery depends on the dose, the amount of time before treatment, and severity of seizures. An overdose may be fatal. Unless there are complications, long-term effects from nicotine are uncommon.

Update Date: 5/12/2003

Updated by: Todd Severson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. 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.