Contac Overdose

Definition

This is poisoning from swallowing a large amount of Contac, a cough, cold, and allergy medicine.

Poisonous Ingredient

• Chlorpheniramine
• Phenylpropanolamine
• Diphenhydramine hydrochloride
• Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
• Dextromethorphan hydrobromide
• Acetaminophen

Note: Not all poisonous ingredients are found in every brand of Contac.

Where Found

• Contac

Symptoms

• Body as a whole
  • Fever
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Enlarged pupils
  • Blurred vision
• Heart and blood vessels
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Increased blood pressure
• Nervous system
  • Depression
  • Excitation
  • Drowsiness
  • Nervousness
  • Hallucinations
  • Disorientation
  • Delirium
  • Unsteadiness
  • Tremor
  • Convulsions

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 National Poison Control center.

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:

• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Medicines to make the person throw up (unless the person may have seizures)
• Activated charcoal
• Laxative
• A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage) 

Expectations (prognosis)

If the patient survives the first 24 hours, survival is likely. Few patients actually die from this type of overdose.

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Review Date:4/4/2006
Reviewed By: Janeen R. Azare, PhD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.