Antidiarrheal drug overdose

Definition

Antidiarrheal drugs are medications used to treat loose, watery, and frequent stools. This article discusses overdose of antidiarrheal drugs containing diphenoxylate or atropine.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Poisonous Ingredient

• Diphenoxylate
• Atropine

Where Found

• Diphenatol
• Lofene
• Logen
• Lomanate
• Lomotil
• Lonox
• Lo-Trol
• Nor-Mil

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

• Apathy
• Coma
• Confusion
• Constipation
• Delirium or hallucinations
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth and skin
• Flushing
• Loss of desire to do anything
• Change in pupil size 
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid side to side eye movement
• Slow breathing

Note: Symptoms may take up to 12 hours to appear.

Home Care

Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed
• Name of the medication prescribed for the patient

Poison Control

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 United States 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 prescription bottle with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

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. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The patient may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Laxative
• Narcotic-counteracting drug (antagonist), approximately every 30 minutes
• Tube through the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most patients will normally recover with treatment and 24 hours of monitoring. However, deaths may occur in young children. Children under age 6 should be admitted to the hospital and closely watched for 24 hours because signs of lung involvement may be delayed and severe.

References

Doyon S. Opioids. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004:chap 167.

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