MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Birth control pills overdose

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Birth control pills overdose

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

Birth control poisoning is an overdose of oral contraceptive pills.

Poisonous Ingredient

Most birth control pills fall under one of the following combinations of estrogen and progestin:

Ethynodiol diacetate and ethinyl estradiol
Ethynodiol diacetate and mestranol
Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol
Norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol
Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol
Mestranol and norethindrone
Mestranol and norethynodrel
Norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol

Some birth control pills contain progestin only, such as:

Norethindrone
Norgestrel

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found

Ethinyl estradiol and ethynodiol diacetate (Demulen)
Mestranol and ethynodiol diacetate (Ovulen)
Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (Nordette, Tri- Levlen, Triphasil)
Norethindrone (Micronor, Nor-Q.D.)
Norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (Loestrin, Norlestrin)
Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol (Brevicon, Ortho-Novum 1/35, Modicon, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ovcon)
Mestranol and norethindrone (Ortho-Novum 1/50)
Mestranol and norethynodrel (Enovid)
Norgestrel (Ovrette)
Norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (Lo/Ovral, Ovral)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Body as a whole
- Excessive vaginal bleeding
- Breast tenderness
- Discoloration of urine
Skin
- Rash
Gastrointestinal
- Nausea and vomiting
Nervous system
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Mental changes

Home Treatment

Discontinue the birth control pills. The poisoning is unlikely to be life threatening, but if an overdose has occurred call Poison Control for further instructions.

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
If the medication was prescribed for the patient

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:

Inducing vomiting
Treating the symptoms

Note: A trip to the emergency room will probably not be necessary.

Expectations (prognosis)

Serious symptoms are very unlikely.

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.

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.