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Warning-sign checks

Imipramine overdose: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Contact your local poison centre or emergency service.

    Call emergency services immediately if the person:

    • Has collapsed, fainted, or cannot be woken
    • Is having a seizure
    • Has trouble breathing
    • Has a very fast or irregular heartbeat
    • Is severely confused, agitated, or unusually sleepy

    Contact emergency services or a local crisis service.

    Immediate support is appropriate even if the person now says they feel better.

    Routine follow-up is appropriate only after emergency clinicians have assessed and cleared the overdose.

    This may include reviewing the prescription, medicine storage, emotional wellbeing, and any ongoing symptoms.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Any suspected imipramine overdose needs urgent medical advice now , even if there are no symptoms.

    Do not wait to see whether the person becomes unwell, and do not let them drive themselves.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • is having side effects from a medicine, or is struggling to take it as prescribed

The article also says

If it is safe, take the medicine container or a photograph of its label to the hospital.

Share what may have been taken, when it happened, and whether alcohol or other medicines were involved.

Do not delay leaving to search for this information.

If the overdose may have been intentional, stay with the person if you can do so safely and remove nearby medicines or weapons.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Imipramine overdose. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.