Diphenhydramine hydrochloride overdose

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Diphenhydramine hydrochloride overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of diphenhydramine.

Alternative Names:

Benadryl; Sominex

Poisonous Ingredient:

diphenhydramine

Where Found:

Benadryl

Symptoms:

body as a whole
- unsteadiness
- convulsions
- delirium
respiratory
- slow, labored breathing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- ringing in the ears
- blurred vision
- very dry mouth and throat
gastrointestinal
- nausea and/or vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- dry mucous membranes
heart and blood vessels
- rapid heart rate
nervous system
- dizziness
- agitation
- incoherence (not understandable)
- confusion
- coma
- drowsiness
- movement disorder

Home Treatment:

The standard procedure is to induce vomiting unless the patient is unconscious or experiencing convulsions. Before inducing vomiting, contact Poison Control for verification.

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

Give the usual dose of 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

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:

Induce vomiting.
Use gastric lavage.
Administer activated charcoal.
Administer a laxative.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Recovery is very likely.

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