MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Chlormerodrin overdose

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Chlormerodrin 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

Poisoning from an overdose of chlormerodrin.

Poisonous Ingredient

chlormerodrin (a form of mercury)

Where Found

Neohydrin, Mercloran (mercurial diuretics)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

body as a whole
- thirst
- metallic taste
- less urine output
- no urine output
- salivation
- red, inflamed areas in the mouth
- shock
respiratory
- extreme difficulty breathing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- swelling within the throat that may be severe
gastrointestinal

Home Treatment

Seek emergency medical care immediately.

The standard procedure is to induce vomiting unless the patient is unconscious or experiencing convulsions. Before inducing vomiting, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for verification.

If instructed to induce vomiting, the standard procedure is as follows:

Give ipecac syrup: 15 milliliters (ml) or 1 TABLEspoonful for children and 30 ml (2 TABLEspoonsful) for an adult.
Follow with 1/2 glass or 4 ounces (oz.) of water for children or 8 to 12 oz. of water for adults.
Repeat 1 more time in 1/2 hour if vomiting has not occurred.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the product (ingredients and strengths 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

In the event of an accidental exposure, seek medical care immediately. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. 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:

Administer activated charcoal.
Use gastric lavage.
Administer a cathartic (a medication used to evacuate the bowels).
Give an antidote.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outcome depends on the amount of exposure and how long it took before proper treatment began. If the poisoning has been over a long period of time, recovery may not be complete.

Update Date: 5/21/2003

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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