Lomotil overdose

Lomotil is a prescription medicine used to treat diarrhea. Lomotil overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine. This can be by accident or on purpose.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual overdose . DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with overdoses, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Lomotil contains 2 drugs that can be harmful in large amounts. They are:

• Atropine
• Diphenoxylate (an opioid)

Where Found

Medicines with these names contain lomotil:

• Lofene
• Logen
• Lomanate
• Lomotil
• Lonox

Other medicines may also contain lomotil.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a lomotil overdose include:

• Slowdown or stoppage of the bowels

  Slowdown or stoppage of the bowels

  Intestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the bowel. The contents of the intestine cannot pass through it.

   

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• Coma (decreased level of consciousness, lack of responsiveness)

  Coma

  A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term "seizure...

   

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• Constipation

  Constipation

  Constipation in infants and children occurs when they have hard stools or have problems passing stools.  A child may have pain while passing stools o...

   

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• Convulsions

  Convulsions

  A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term "seizure...

   

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• Drowsiness

  Drowsiness

  Drowsiness refers to feeling abnormally sleepy during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep in inappropriate situations or at inappropriate...

   

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• Dry mucous membranes in the mouth
• Eyes pupils are tiny or enlarged
• Eyes move quickly from side to side
• Flushed skin

  Flushed skin

  Skin blushing or flushing is a sudden reddening of the face, neck, or upper chest.

   

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• Hallucinations

  Hallucinations

  Hallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind.

   

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• Pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
• Rapid heartbeat

  Rapid heartbeat

  Palpitations are feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing. They can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. You may:Have an unpl...

   

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• Restlessness
• Slow breathing , or breathing stops

  Slow breathing

  Most people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...

   

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• Urination difficulty
• Vomiting

Note: Symptoms may take up to 12 hours to appear.

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. Do NOT make a person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed
• If the medicine was prescribed for the person

Poison Control

Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) 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.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container to the hospital with you, if possible.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated.

The person may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Breathing support, including tube through the mouth and breathing machine (ventilator)
• EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
• Fluids through a vein (by IV)
• Laxative
• Medicine to reverse the effect of atropine
• Medicine to reverse the effect of the diphenoxylate
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach ( gastric lavage )

  Gastric lavage

  Gastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.

   

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Some people may need to stay in the hospital to be monitored.

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well someone does depends on how much lomotil they swallowed and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.

A hospital stay may be needed for more doses of the medicines that reverse the effects of the drug. Complications, such as pneumonia, muscle damage from lying on a hard surface for a prolonged period of time, or brain damage from lack of oxygen may result in permanent disability. However, unless there are complications, long-term effects and death are rare.

People who quickly receive medicine to reverse the effect of the opioid usually get better within 24 to 48 hours. However, children do not do as well.