Nembutal overdose

Definition:

Nembutal overdose is poisoning from an overdose of Nembutal.

Poisonous Ingredient:

Pentobarbital

Where Found:

Nembutal
Pentosol
Lethobard
Repocal
Sopental

Symptoms:

Body as a whole
- Unsteady gait
- Kidney failure if shock develops
- Slurred speech
Respiratory
- Difficulty breathing
- Breathing may be slowed or stopped
- Pneumonia if shock develops
Skin
- Rash
Heart and blood vessels:
- Weak pulse
- Low blood pressure
- Heart failure
Nervous system
- Headache
- Confusion
- Delirium
- Coma
- Deep sleep
- Decreased energy

Home Treatment:

Call Poison Control. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING.

Before Calling Emergency:

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, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following may be performed or given:

Gastric lavage�
Activated charcoal
Laxative
Treatment of other symptoms

Expectations (prognosis):

The prognosis (probable outcome) depends on the symptoms observed by the health care provider.

Mild (no further treatment will probably be necessary)
- The patient can be aroused
Moderate (recovery will probably occur within 24 - 48 hours with proper care)
- The patient cannot be aroused
- Breathing is normal
- Other life signs (pulse, skin color, and so on) are normal
Severe (recovery will probably occur within 3 - 5 days, depending on the amount swallowed)
- The patient cannot be aroused
- Breathing and other life signs are abnormal

Review Date: 5/10/2005
Reviewed By: William D. Whetstone, M.D., Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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