Merthiolate overdose

Disease	Injury	Nutrition	Poison

Special Topic	Surgery	Symptoms	Test

Merthiolate overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of Merthiolate.

Poisonous Ingredient:

thimerosal

Where Found:

Merthiolate
Some eye drops
Some nasal drops

Symptoms:

body as a whole
- thirst
- metallic taste
- decreased urine output
- no urine output
- salivation
- mouth lesions
- shock
respiratory
- extreme difficulty breathing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- swelling within the throat to the point of closing it off
gastrointestinal
- abdominal pain (severe)
- vomiting
- diarrhea (bloody)

Home Treatment:

Thimerosal is poorly absorbed from the intestinal tract and a serious poisoning is unlikely. However, for extreme overdoses, call Poison Control.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

If you are concerned about a Merthiolate overdose or poisoning, seek medical care at your nearest emergency room. 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:

Use gastric lavage (must be done carefully).
Administer activated charcoal.
Administer a cathartic (a medication used to evacuate the bowels).
Give an antidote.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Because a serious poisoning is unlikely, recovery is very probable.

Review Date: 2/18/2001
Reviewed By: Kevin G. Wheeler, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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