Oral hypoglycemics overdose Health Article

Definition

This is poisoning from swallowing a large amount of hypoglycemic pills, which are used to control diabetes.

Alternative Names

Diabetes pill overdose

Poisonous Ingredient

• Chlorpropamide
• Tolbutamide
• Acetohexamide
• Tolazamide
• Glimepiride
• 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)
• Glimepiride (Amaryl)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

• Whole body
  • Lack of desire to do anything
  • Agitation
  • Nervousness
  • Sweating
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Tingling of tongue and lips
• Gastrointestinal
  • Nausea
  • Increased appetite
• Heart and blood
  • Rapid heartbeat
• Nervous system
  • Tremor
  • Convulsions
  • Confusion
  • Stupor
  • Coma

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the plant, if known  
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

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:

• Activated charcoal
• Laxative
• A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)  
• Blood tests to measure blood glucose
• Dextrose (sugar) solution given by IV
• Methods to make the person throw up

Expectations (prognosis)

Some of these medications may stay in the body for a long time, so the individual need to be watched for several days. Death is possible, especially if an abnormal blood glucose level is not corrected in a timely manner.