MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Copper poisoning

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Copper poisoning

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 copper.

Poisonous Ingredient

Copper

Where Found

Copper wire
Some aquarium products
Clinitest tablets (see Clinitest tablets overdose)
Vitamin and/or mineral supplements

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Acute overdose by ingestion may cause vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and jaundice. External contamination from copper can result in hair discoloration (green).

Body as a whole
- Burning sensation
- Metallic taste
- Pain
- Shock
- No urine output
- Convulsions
- Fever
- Muscular aches
- Chills
- Weakness
- Anemia
Yellow eyes
Yellow skin
Gastrointestinal
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Diarrhea

Home Treatment

Seek emergency medical care immediately.

The normal treatment is to induce vomiting unless the patient is unconscious or experiencing convulsions. Before inducing vomiting, contact Poison Control to verify that is the correct treatment.

If instructed to induce emesis, proceed as follows or as otherwise instructed:

Give the usual dose of ipecac syrup: 15 mL (1 tablespoon) for children and 30 mL (2 tablespoons) for an adult.
Follow with 1/2 cup (4 oz) of water for children or 8-12 oz. of water for adults.
Repeat if vomiting has not occurred in 1/2 hour.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

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

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Bring a sample with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Induce vomiting
Administer activated charcoal
Use gastric lavage
Administer an antidote
Dialysis
Treat the symptoms

Expectations (prognosis)

If treated promptly and properly, copper poisoning is rarely severe. If toxicity is due to long-time accumulation, the ultimate outcome depends on the extent of damage in body organs affected by the metal.

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.

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