Meprobamate Overdose

Definition

This is poisoning from taking a large dose of meprobamate, a drug used to treat anxiety.

Alternative Names

Poisonous Ingredient

• Meprobamate

Where Found

• Equanil
• Miltown
• Equagesic
• Meprogesic

Symptoms

• Lungs
  • Labored breathing
  • Wheezing
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Double vision
  • Blurred vision
  • Rapid side-to-side movement of the eyes
• Heart and blood
  • Slow heart rate
  • Palpitations
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Convulsions
• Skin
  • Pinpoint red spots
  • Blue lips and fingernails
• Gastrointestinal
  • Vomiting
• Nervous system
  • Drowsiness
  • Stupor (lack of alertness)
  • Coma
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Excitability
  • Slurred speech
  • Weakness
  • Tremor
  • Uncoordinated movement

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
• If the medicine 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 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:

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

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Review Date:3/13/2006
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.