MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Meprobamate overdose

Skip navigation


Medical Encyclopedia
Other encyclopedia topics:	A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9

Meprobamate 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

Equanil overdose

Definition Return to top

This is poisoning from taking a large dose of meprobamate, a drug used to treat anxiety.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Meprobamate

Where Found Return to top

Equanil
Miltown
Equagesic
Meprogesic

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Lungs
- Labored breathing
- Wheezing
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Double vision
- Blurred vision
- Rapid side-to-side movement of the eyes
Heart and blood
- Slow heart rate
- Palpitations
- Rapid heart rate
- Convulsions
Skin
- Pinpoint red spots
- Blue lips and fingernails
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
Nervous system
- Drowsiness
- Stupor (lack of alertness)
- Coma
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Excitability
- Slurred speech
- Weakness
- Tremor
- Uncoordinated movement

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed
If the medicine was prescribed for the patient

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. The patient may receive:

Methods to make the person throw up
Laxative
Medicines to treat symptoms
Activated charcoal
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

With proper care, recovery normally occurs (except possibly in patients with aplastic anemia).

Update Date: 3/13/2006

Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2008, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.