Thioridazine overdose

Disease	Injury	Nutrition	Poison

Special Topic	Surgery	Symptoms	Test

Thioridazine overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of thioridazine.

Alternative Names:

Mellaril

Poisonous Ingredient:

thioridazine

Where Found:

Mellaril

Symptoms:

body as a whole
- dry mouth
- hypothermia (body temperature is lower than normal)
- incoordination
- fever
- tremor
- muscle stiffness
- stiff neck and/or face
- inability to completely empty the bladder
- weakness
- difficulty swallowing
- salivation
- convulsions
- alteration of menstrual patterns
- muscle spasms
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- nasal congestion
- blurred vision
- mouth ulcers (gums, tongue, or throat)
- yellow eyes
- vision color changes ( brown tinge)
skin
- skin discoloration, bluish (changing to a purplish color)--from an allergic reaction
gastrointestinal
heart and blood vessels
- low blood pressure (severe) or high blood pressure
- rapid heartbeat
nervous system
- drowsiness
- coma
- disorientation
- seizures
- dizziness

Home Treatment:

Contact Poison Control for appropriate treatment.

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:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. 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:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Induce emesis.
Use gastric lavage.
Administer activated charcoal.
Administer a laxative.
Fluid replacement.
Antidote may be given.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Recovery depends on the nature of the damage done by the overdose. Survival past 2 days is usually a good sign.

Review Date: 1/10/2002
Reviewed By: Victoria Kennedy, RN, A.D.A.M. editorial.

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