Oral hypoglycemics overdose

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Definition
Poisoning from an oral hypoglycemic.

Poisonous Ingredient

• chlorpropamide
  
• tolbutamide
  
• acetohexamide
  
• tolazamide
  
• glipizide
  
• glyburide

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found

• chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
  
• tolbutamide (Orinase)
  
• acetohexamide (Dymelor)
  
• tolazamide (Tolinase)
  
• glipizide (Glucotrol)
  
• glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

• body as a whole
  o confusion
  o lack of desire to do anything
  o agitation
  o nervousness
  o sweating
  o stupor
  o coma
  
• eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  o tingling of tongue and lips
  
• gastrointestinal
  o Nausea
  o increased appetite
  
• heart and blood vessels
  o rapid heartbeat
  
• nervous system
  o tremor
  o Convulsions

Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:

• 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
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:

• gastric lavage
  
• administer activated charcoal and a laxative
  
• monitor vital signs ( blood pressure, pulse, and so forth)
  
• blood glucose will be measured
  
• possible of IV administration of a dextrose solution

Expectations (prognosis)
Due to how long some of these medications stay in the body, the individual may have to be monitored closely for up to several days.

Death is possible, especially if the blood glucose level is not corrected in a timely manner.

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