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

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• The amount swallowed
• If the medication was prescribed for the person

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.

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The patient may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Breathing support
• Fluids through a vein (by IV)
• Laxative
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)

If the patient survives the first 24 hours, chances of survival are good. Few patients actually die from an antihistamine overdose.

Review Date: 10/02/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)