Phenothiazine overdose
Definition
Phenothiazine overdose is poisoning from medications containing a phenothiazine.
Poisonous Ingredient
- Acetophenazine
- Chlorpromazine
- Chlorprothixene
- Clozapine
- Fluphenazine
- Haloperidol
- Loxapine
- Mesoridazine
- Molindone
- Perphenazine
- Pimozide
- Prochlorperazine
- Promazine
- Thioridazine
- Thiothixene
- Trifluoperazine
- Triflupromazine
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Where Found
- Acetophenazine
- Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
- Chlorprothixene (Taractan)
- Clozapine (Clozaril)
- Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
- Haloperidol (Haldol)
- Loxapine (Loxitane)
- Mesoridazine (Serentil)
- Molindone (Moban)
- Perphenazine (Trilafon)
- Pimozide (Orap)
- Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
- Promazine (Sparine)
- Thioridazine (Mellaril)
- Thiothixene (Navane)
- Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
- Triflupromazine
- Promethazine (Phenergan)
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Symptoms
- Body as a whole
- Agitation
- Change of menstrual pattern (from chronic doses)
-
Clumsiness
-
Coma
-
Confusion
- Deep sleep
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fever
- Hallucinations (rare)
- Irritability
- Loss of muscle coordination
- Restlessness
- Retention of urine
- Stiff muscles especially of the face or neck
- Respiratory
- Slowed breathing
- Stop breathing
- Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Skin
- Skin may sunburn rapidly if exposed to the sun
- Gastrointestinal
- Heart and blood vessels
- Nervous system
Home Treatment
DO NOT induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by Poison Control or by your health care provider.
Before Calling Emergency
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
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
Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:
- Treatment of symptoms
- Monitoring of vital signs (blood pressure, pulse)
- Emptying the stomach (gastric lavage)
- Administering of charcoal
- Giving a laxative
- Giving an antidote
Expectations (prognosis)
These overdoses often require treatment in a health care facility. If symptoms worsen, medical care may be required for up to a week.
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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