Meprobamate overdose

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Meprobamate overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of meprobamate.

Alternative Names:

Equanil

Poisonous Ingredient:

meprobamate

Where Found:

Equanil
Miltown
Equagesic
Meprogesic

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

body as a whole
respiratory
- labored breathing
- wheezing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- double vision
- blurred vision
- rapid side-to-side movement of the eyes
heart and blood vessels
- slow heart rate
- palpitations
- rapid heart rate
skin
- pinpoint red spots
- bluish colored lips and fingernails
gastrointestinal
- vomiting
nervous system
- drowsiness
- stupor
- coma
- dizziness
- confusion
- excitability
- slurred speech

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following:

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
it 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.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

With proper care, recovery normally occurs (except possibly in patients with aplastic anemia).

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