MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Pentazocine overdose

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Pentazocine 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

Talwin; Alupent; Fortal; Pentafen; Fortulgesic; Litcon

Definition Return to top

Pentazocine is a medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain. A pentazocine overdose occurs when someone takes too much of this medicine.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Pentazocine

Where Found Return to top

Talwin Nx
Algopent
Fortral
Pentafen
Fortulgesic
Litcon

This list is not all-inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Pinpoint pupils
Gastrointestinal
- Abdominal cramps
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
Heart and blood vessels
- Blood pressure problems
- Rapid heart beat
- Weak pulse
Lungs
- Breathing difficulty
Nervous system
- Convulsions
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
Skin
- Bluish color to the skin (cyanosis)

Home Care Return to top

Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed
If the medication 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 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: 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, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The patient may receive:

Activated charcoal
Fluids by IV
Gastric lavage
Laxative
Medicine (antidote) to help reverse the effect of the poison -- multiple doses may be needed

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

If an antidote can be given, recovery from an acute overdose often occurs within 1 - 2 days.

Update Date: 4/19/2007

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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