MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Norpramin overdose

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Norpramin overdose

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Before Calling Emergency Poison Control What to Expect at the Emergency Room Outlook (Prognosis)

Alternative Names

Desipramine overdose

Definition Return to top

Norpramin is a type of drug called a tricyclic antidepressant. It is used to treat depression.

Norpramin overdose occurs when you accidentally or intentionally take too much of this medicine.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Desipramine

Where Found Return to top

Norpramin is the brand name for a medicine called desipramine. Desipramine may also be sold under the following brand names:

Nortimil
Pertofrane
Sertofren

This list may not be all-inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Bladder and kidneys
- Urinary hesitancy
Respiratory
- Breathing difficulty
- Pneumonia
Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat
- Blurred vision
- Dilated pupils
- Dry mouth
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
Heart and blood vessels
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Shock
Nervous system
- Coma
- Convulsions
- Drowsiness
- Hallucinations
- Muscle rigidity
- Restlessness
- Stupor
- Uncoordinated movements

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

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
If the medication was prescribed for the patient

Poison Control Return to top

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 container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: National Poison Control center

What to Expect at the Emergency Room Return to top

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
A medicine (antidote) called sodium bicarbonate
Fluids by IV
Gastric lavage
Methods to keep the airways open

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

How well a patient does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment was received. The faster a patient gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

This type of overdose can be extremely dangerous and difficult to treat. Serious harm and death can occur if the person is not immediately treated.

Update Date: 4/19/2007

Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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