MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Calcium carbonate overdose

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Calcium carbonate 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

Tums overdose; Calcium overdose

Definition Return to top

Calcium carbonate is an ingredient that is commonly found in antacids (for heartburn) and some dietary supplements. Calcium carbonate overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of a product containing this substance.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Calcium

Where Found Return to top

Products containing calcium carbonate, including

Certain antacids (Tums, Chooz)
Certain mineral supplements
Certain hand lotions
Certain vitamin and mineral supplements

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Abdominal pain
Bone pain
Coma
Confusion
Constipation
Depression
Diarrhea
Headache
Irregular heartbeat
Nausea
Vomiting

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. Seek immediate medical help.

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

Activated charcoal
Tube thru the mouth into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

Because calcium carbonate is considered a fairly nontoxic substance, recovery is quite likely. Chronic overuse is more serious than a single overdose.

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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