Calcium carbonate with magnesium antacid overdose

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Calcium carbonate with magnesium antacid overdose

Definition:

This poisoning is from an overdose of calcium carbonate with magnesium in one of its various forms.

Alternative Names:

Calcium carbonate; Magnesium; Rolaids

Poisonous Ingredient:

Calcium carbonate and magnesium.

Where Found:

Rolaids antacid
Rolaids Calcium Rich
Rolaids Sodium Free

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

Body as a whole
- Dry mouth
- Bone pain (from chronic over-use)
Respiratory
- Shallow, rapid breathing
Cardiovascular
- Electrical disturbances (arrhythmias) in the heart
Gastrointestinal
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Nervous system
- Stupor (being too sleepy)
- Poor balance

Home Treatment:

If you believe someone has had a toxic exposure to Rolaids, seek medical care immediately. Do not induce vomiting, and call Poison Control. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

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

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

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

What to expect at the emergency room:

For swallowed poison:

Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)
Activated charcoal administration
Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach
Give IV fluids
Admission to the hospital
Give an antidote
Treat the symptoms

Expectations (prognosis):

With proper care, recovery is likely.

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