MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Aminophylline overdose

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Aminophylline overdose

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

Alternative Names

Theophylline overdose; Xanthine overdose

Definition Return to top

Aminophylline or theophylline are medicines used to prevent and treat wheezing and other breathing difficulties caused lung diseases such as asthma.

Aminophylline or theophylline overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of these medications.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Aminophylline
Theophylline

Where Found Return to top

Aminophylline
Theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Phyllin, Theolair, Slo-Bid)
Various asthma medications

Note: This list may not be all-inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Symptoms in adults may include:

Gastrointestinal
- Increased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Nausea
- Vomiting (possibly with blood)
Heart and blood
- High or low blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Rapid heart rate
- Pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
Lungs
- Breathing difficulty
Muscles and joints
- Muscle twitching and cramping
Nervous system
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Hallucinations (thinking something is there, but it's not)
- Headache
- Irritability
- Psychosis
- Restlessness
- Sweating
- Trouble sleeping

Symptoms in babies may include:

Gastrointestinal
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Heart and blood
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shock
Lungs
- Rapid, deep breathing
Muscles and joints
- Muscle cramps
- Twitching
Nervous system
- Convulsions
- Tremors

Home Care Return to top

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 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

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: Poison control center - emergency number

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
Breathing help (artificial respiration)
Laxative
Tube through the nose into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

Convulsions and irregular heartbeats may be difficult to control. Some symptoms may occur up to 12 hours after the overdose.

Update Date: 1/23/2008

Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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