Pheniramine overdose

• Alternative names
• Definition
• Poisonous Ingredient
• Where Found
• Symptoms

• Home Treatment
• Before Calling Emergency
• Poison Control, or a local emergency number
• What to expect at the emergency room
• Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names   

Definition    Return to top

This poisoning is from an overdose of pheniramine.

Poisonous Ingredient    Return to top

Pheniramine

Where Found    Return to top

• Ru-Tuss with Hydrocodone
• Citra Forte
• Dehistine D
• Liqui-Histine
• Poly-D
• Poly-Histine

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms    Return to top

• Body as a whole
  • Unsteadiness
  • Tremor
  • Convulsions
  • Fever
  • Flushed skin
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Dilated pupils
• Heart and blood vessels
  • Rapid heartbeat
• Nervous system
  • Depression
  • Excitation
  • Drowsiness
  • Nervousness
  • Hallucinations
  • Disorientation
  • Delirium

Home Treatment    Return to top

Seek medical care immediately. Call Poison Control. Do not induce vomiting.

Before Calling Emergency    Return to top

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    Return to top

See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room    Return to top

• 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)    Return to top

If the patient survives the first 24 hours, survival is likely. Few patients actually die from an antihistamine overdose.