Amitriptyline and Perphenazine overdose

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Amitriptyline and Perphenazine overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of Etrafon, which is a tricyclic antidepressent and antipsychotic combination.

Alternative Names:

Etrafon; Triavil; Triptazine

Poisonous Ingredient:

amitriptyline
perphenazine

Where Found:

Etrafon
Triavil
Triptazine

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

body as a whole
- alteration of menstrual patterns
- convulsions
- unpleasant taste
- fever
- hypothermia (body temperature is lower than normal)
- inability to completely empty the bladder
- incoordination
- muscle rigidity
- muscle spasms
- excessive salivation
- shock
- stiff muscles in neck, face, or back
- tremor
- incoordination
- urinary hesitancy
- weakness
respiratory
- breathing slowed and labored
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- blurred vision
- nasal congestion
skin
- itchy skin
- rash
gastrointestinal
heart and blood vessels
- irregular heartbeat
- heartbeat- rapid
- low blood pressure (severe)
nervous system
- agitation
- coma
- disorientation
- drowsiness
- restlessness
- stupor

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:

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 emesis.
Administer activated charcoal.
Administer a laxative.
Use gastric lavage.
Monitor vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure).
Maintain the patient's airway.
Replace fluid if appropriate.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

The amount swallowed and the time before appropriate therapy is initiated usually determine the final outcome. Patients have died as late as 72 hours after an overdose ingestion. The sooner therapy is applied, the greater the chance of a positive outcome. Recovery depends on the nature of the damage done by the overdose. Survival past 2 weeks is usually a good sign.

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 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.