MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Isopropanol overdose

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Isopropanol 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

Rubbing alcohol overdose; Isopropyl alcohol overdose

Definition Return to top

Isopropanol overdose is poisoning from swallowing isopropanol, a type of non-drinking alcohol.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Isopropyl alcohol

Where Found Return to top

Rubbing alcohol
Alcohol swabs
Paint thinners
Cleaning supplies
Perfumes

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Abdominal pain
Burns and damage to the clear covering of the front of the eye (cornea)
Coma
Dizziness
Headache
Low body temperature
Low blood pressure
Low blood sugar
Nausea
Rapid heart rate
Skin redness and pain
Slowed breathing
Slurred speech
Throat pain
Uncoordinated movement
Unconsciousness
Unresponsive reflexes
Urination problems (too much or too little urine)
Vomiting (may contain blood)

Home Care Return to top

Seek immediate medical help.

Do not make the person throw up.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
the time 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 U.S. 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.

Medicines to treat symptoms
Treatment to get blood pressure near normal
Activated charcoal
Laxative
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
Breathing assistance, possibly artificial respiration
Dialysis

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

If the patient survives past the first 72 hours, complete recovery is very likely.

Update Date: 3/18/2006

Updated by: Janeen R. Azare, PhD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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