Oral hypoglycemics overdose

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Oral hypoglycemics overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an oral hypoglycemic.

Poisonous Ingredient:

chlorpropamide
tolbutamide
acetohexamide
tolazamide
glipizide
glyburide

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found:

chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
tolbutamide (Orinase)
acetohexamide (Dymelor)
tolazamide (Tolinase)
glipizide (Glucotrol)
glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

body as a whole
- confusion
- lack of desire to do anything
- agitation
- nervousness
- sweating
- stupor
- coma
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- tingling of tongue and lips
gastrointestinal
- nausea
- increased appetite
heart and blood vessels
- rapid heartbeat
nervous system
- tremor
- convulsions

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:

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:

gastric lavage
administer activated charcoal and a laxative
monitor vital signs ( blood pressure, pulse, and so forth)
blood glucose will be measured
possible of IV administration of a dextrose solution

Expectations (prognosis):

Due to how long some of these medications stay in the body, the individual may have to be monitored closely for up to several days.

Death is possible, especially if the blood glucose level is not corrected in a timely manner.

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