MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Pentazocine overdose

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Pentazocine 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

Talwin; Alopent; Fortal; Pentafen; Fortulgesic; Litcon

Definition Return to top

Poisoning from an overdose of pentazocine.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Pentazocine

Where Found Return to top

Talwin Nx
Algopent
Fortral
Pentafen
Fortulgesic
Liticon

This list is not all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Respiratory
- Breathing difficulty (shallow, slow, or labored; breathing may stop, which can be fatal in 2-4 minutes)
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Pinpoint pupils
Skin
- Cyanosis
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
Heart and blood vessels
- Weak or fast pulse
- Low blood pressure or high blood pressure
- Palpitations
Nervous system
- Drowsiness
- Convulsions
- Dizziness
- Headache

Home Treatment Return to top

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

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:

Use gastric lavage.
Administer activated charcoal.
Administer a laxative.
Give a counteracting medication (narcotic antagonist). Multiple doses may be needed.
Administer intravenous fluids as needed.
Monitor breathing.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

If an antidote can be given, recovery from an acute overdose often occurs within 1 to 2 days.

Update Date: 8/6/2003

Updated by: Ari Schwell, M.D., Director, Emergency Department of the Episcopal Campus of Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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