MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Roundup grass and weed killer poisoning

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Roundup grass and weed killer 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

Weedoff poisoning

Definition Return to top

This is poisoning caused by swallowing Roundup, a type of week killer.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Glyphosate

Where Found Return to top

Roundup
Bronco
Glifonox
Kleen-up
Rodeo
Weedoff

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Lungs
- Breathing difficulty
Heart and blood
- Low blood pressure
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Irritation of mouth and throat
- Tearing, increased
Skin
- Irritation
- Cyanosis (blue lips or fingernails - rare)
Gastrointestinal
- Nausea
- Vomiting (may vomit blood)
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
Nervous system
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Coma
- Drowsiness
- Weakness

Home Care Return to top

If the product is on the skin, wash the area thoroughly for at least 15 minutes.

DO NOT make the person throw up. Call Poison Control Center for appropriate treatment instructions.

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

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:

Medicines to treat symptoms
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach ( gastric lavage)
Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days
Water or milk

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

Patients that continue to improve over the first 4 to 6 hours (after medical treatment) usually recover.

Update Date: 2/28/2006

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

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