MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Nitroglycerin overdose

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Nitroglycerin overdose

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

Definition

Nitroglycerin is a medicine that helps relax the blood vessels leading to the heart. It is used to prevent chest pain. Nitroglycerin overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medication.

Poisonous Ingredient

Nitroglycerin

Where Found

Brand names of nitroglycerin tablets include:

Deponit
Minitran
Nitro-Bid
Nitrocine
Nitrodisc
Nitro-Dur
Nitrogard
Nitroglyn
Nitrol
Nitrolingual
Nitrong
Nitrostat
Transderm-Nitro
Tridil

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Airways and lungs
- Shortness of breath
- Slow breathing
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Vision difficulty
Heart and blood vessels
- Heart palpitations
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid heartbeat or slow heartbeat
Nervous system
- Convulsions
- Coma
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Headache
Skin
- Bluish color to lips and fingernails
- Cold skin
- Flushing
Stomach and intestines
- Diarrhea
- Cramping
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting

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
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
When it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

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 container 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:

Breathing support (including artificial respiration)
Fluids by IV

Outlook (Prognosis)

Deaths have occurred, but are rare.

Update Date: 10/29/2007

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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