MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Codeine overdose

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Codeine 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

Methylmorphine overdose

Definition Return to top

Codeine overdose is poisoning from codeine, which is found in many pain-relieving prescription medications.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Codeine

Where Found Return to top

Tylenol #3
Actifed with Codeine
Robitussin A-C
Empirin #3
Gelonida
Voltaren forte
Oxa forte

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Bluish colored fingernails and lips
Breathing - shallow
Breathing - slow and labored
Breathing stops
Cold, clammy skin
Coma
Constipation
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Low blood pressure
Muscle spasticity
Muscle twitches
Pinpoint pupils
Seizures
Skin itching
Spasms of stomach or intestines
Weak pulse

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
When 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 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
Activated charcoal
Laxative
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
Breathing help (possibly artificial respiration)
A narcotic antagonist (medicine to reverse the effect of the painkiller)

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

Patients usually get better in 24 hours if an antidote is given.

Update Date: 4/4/2006

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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