Methyl salicylate overdose

Definition

Methyl salicylate is wintergreen-scented chemical found in various over-the-counter products, including muscle ache creams. Overdose from methyl salicylate occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally take more than the normal or recommended amount of a product containing this substance.

See also: Sports cream overdose

Alternative Names

Poisonous Ingredient

• Methyl salicylate

Where Found

• Oil of wintergreen
• Deep-heating creams used to relieve sore muscles and joints
• Solutions for vaporizers

Symptoms

• Lungs
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Rapid breathing
  • No breathing
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Ringing in the ears
• Gastrointestinal
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
• Nervous system
  • Dizziness
  • Hallucinations
  • Drowsiness
  • Agitation
• Heart and blood
  • Convulsions
  • Collapse
• Whole body
  • Fever

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The patient may receive:

• Methods to make the person throw up
• Activated charcoal.
• Laxative
• Blood tests to determine the salicylate level in the blood
• Fluids (milk, fruit juice, or, in severe cases, IV fluids)
• Sodium bicarbonate 
• Dialysis (in severe cases)

Expectations (prognosis)

How well a patient does depends on how much salicylate is in the blood. The person usually recovers if the effect of the salicylate can be turned off (neutralized).

Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) is the most poisonous (toxic) form of the salicylates. Doses of less than 1 teaspoonful have been deadly in small children.