Definition

Phenothiazine overdose is poisoning from taking a large amount of a drug containing phenothiazine. Phenothiazine drugs are used to treat serious mental and emotional disorders.

Poisonous Ingredient

  • Acetophenazine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Chlorprothixene
  • Clozapine
  • Fluphenazine
  • Haloperidol
  • Loxapine
  • Mesoridazine
  • Molindone
  • Perphenazine
  • Pimozide
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Promazine
  • Thioridazine
  • Thiothixene
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Triflupromazine
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found

  • Acetophenazine
  • Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
  • Chlorprothixene (Taractan)
  • Clozapine (Clozaril)
  • Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
  • Haloperidol (Haldol)
  • Loxapine (Loxitane)
  • Mesoridazine (Serentil)
  • Molindone (Moban)
  • Perphenazine (Trilafon)
  • Pimozide (Orap)
  • Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
  • Promazine (Sparine)
  • Thioridazine (Mellaril)
  • Thiothixene (Navane)
  • Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
  • Triflupromazine
  • Promethazine (Phenergan)
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

  • Whole body
    • Agitation
    • Change of menstrual pattern (from chronic doses)
    • Deep sleep
    • Fever
    • Low body temperature
    • Restlessness
    • Weakness
  • Muscles and joints
    • Stiff muscles especially of the face or neck
    • Loss of muscle coordination
  • Bladder and kidneys
    • Retention of urine
  • Lungs and chest
    • Slowed breathing
    • Stop breathing
  • Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat
  • Skin
    • Skin may sunburn rapidly if exposed to the sun
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Heart and blood vessels
    • Irregular heartbeat
    • Rapid heartbeat
    • Low blood pressure
  • Nervous system

Home Treatment

DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional. Seek immediate medical help.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

  • Patient's age, weight, and condition
  • The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
  • When it was swallowed
  • The amount swallowed
  • If the drug 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:

  • Medicines to treat symptoms
  • EKG
  • Activated charcoal
  • Laxative
  • A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage) 
  • Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison
Review Date:2/28/2006
Reviewed By: Stephen C Acosta, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.