Phenindamine overdose

Definition

Phenindamine overdose is poisoning that happens when you take too much of the drug phenindamine.

Alternative Names

Poisonous Ingredient

Phenindamine, an antihistamine that relieves allergy symptoms.

Where Found

• Nolahist
• Amilon
• Fenaclor
• Nolamine
• Norphenamine
• Prophamine

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

• Body as a whole
  • Unsteadiness
  • Tremor
  • Convulsions
  • Fever
  • Flushed skin
  • Weakness
  • Insomnia
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Enlarged pupils
  • Ringing of the ears
  • Blurred Vision
  • Dry mouth
• Heart and blood vessels
  • Rapid heartbeat
• Nervous system
  • Depression
  • Excitation
  • Drowsiness
  • Nervousness
  • Hallucinations
  • Disorientation
  • Delirium
  • Seizures (possible)

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• The patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, 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

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 emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• For swallowed poison
  • Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)
  • Activated charcoal administration
  • Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach
  • Give IV fluids
  • Admission to the hospital
  • Give an antidote
  • Treat the symptoms
• For inhaled poisons
  • A breathing tube may need to be inserted
  • Oxygen
  • Admission to the hospital or to the intensive care unit
  • Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down the throat into the airway to evaluate the extent of burns to the airway and lungs)
• For skin exposure
  • Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days
  • Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin)
  • Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care

Expectations (prognosis)

If the patient survives the first 24 hours, recovery is good. Few patients die from an antihistamine overdose.