MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Mouthwash overdose

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Mouthwash overdose

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

Alternative Names

Listerine overdose; Antiseptic mouth rinse overdose

Definition Return to top

This poisoning from an overdose of mouthwash.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol)
Methyl salicylate
Chlorhexidine gluconate
Hydrogen peroxide

Where Found Return to top

Many brands of mouthwash including Listerine, Scope, and Rembrandt.

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Body as a whole
- Collapse
- Convulsions
- Excessive sweating
- Excessive thirst
- Listing from side to side
- Decreased urine output
- Slurred speech
- Unable to walk in a normal manner
- Low blood sugar
Respiratory
- Deep breathing - may be rapid
- Rapid breathing - may be shallow
- Slowed respirations
- Stopped breathing
Skin
- Bluish skin (lips and fingernails)
Gastrointestinal
Heart and blood vessels
- Drop in blood pressure
Nervous system

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following:

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 emergency room.

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 alcohol levels will also be checked.

The patient may receive:

Fluids
Medicines to treat symptoms
Activated charcoal
Laxative
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
Artificial respiration
Kidney dialysis

The patient may be admitted to the hospital.

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

If the patient survives the first 24 hours without any major problems, survival is very likely.

Update Date: 3/17/2006

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

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