MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: H2 Receptor antagonists

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H2 Receptor antagonists

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

Cimetidine; Tagamet; Ranitidine; Zantac; Famotidine, Pepcid; Nizatidine; Axid

Definition Return to top

H2 receptor antagonist poisoning is an overdose of an H2 receptor antagonist. H2 receptor antagonists are medications available by prescription and over-the-counter for reducing stomach acid.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Cimetidine
Ranitidine
Famotidine
Nizatidine

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found Return to top

Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Ranitidine (Zantac)
Famotidine (Pepcid)
Nizatidine (Axid)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Respiratory
- Difficulty breathing
Skin
- Fushing
- Sweating
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Heart and blood vessels
- Rapid heartbeat or slow heartbeat
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
Nervous system
- Tremors
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech

Home Treatment Return to top

DO NOT induce vomiting. Call Poison Control or your local emergency number if an overdose of an H2 receptor antagonist has occured.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
When it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number Return to top

Call Poison Control or your local emergency number -- 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:

Administering activated charcoal
Administering a laxative
Emptying the stomach (gastric lavage)
Administering artificial respiration (breathing) if necessary
Maintaining adequate respiration rate
Treating the symptoms

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Serious complications are rare.

Update Date: 2/9/2004

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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