MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Anticoagulant rodenticides poisoning

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Anticoagulant rodenticides poisoning

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

Rat killer poisoning; Rodenticide poisoning

Definition Return to top

Anticoagulant rodenticides are very poisonous products used to kill rats. Rodenticide means rodent killer. Anticoagulant is a blood thinner.

Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning occurs when someone swallows a product containing these chemicals.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

2-iso-valeryl-1,3-indandione
2-pivaloyl-1,3-indandione
Brodifacoum
Chlorophacinone
Coumachlor
Difenacoum
Diphacinone
Warfarin

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found Return to top

Brodifacoum (D-con Mouse Prufe II, Talon)
Certain rodenticides
Diphacinone (Ramik, Diphacin)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Blood in the urine
Bloody stools
Bruising and bleeding
Low blood pressure
Shock
Vomiting blood

An exam by a health care professional may show signs of bleeding in the brain.

Home Care Return to top

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
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
When it was swallowed
The 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. The patient may receive:

Blood transfusion
Medicines to treat symptoms
Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

Death may occur as late as 2 weeks after the poisoning as a result of bleeding. However, adequate treatment usually prevents any serious complications.

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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