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Warning-sign checks

Phenothiazine 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

    Elsewhere, contact your local poison information centre or emergency medical service.

    Have the medicine container available if possible.

    Call emergency services now if the person:

    • Is difficult to wake, unconscious, or behaving very unusually
    • Has trouble breathing, blue or grey lips, or choking sounds
    • Faints, collapses, or has a seizure
    • Has severe muscle stiffness or a very high temperature
    • Develops a very fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
    • Took the medicine intentionally or may take more

    Begin CPR if they are not breathing normally and follow instructions from emergency services.

    Routine follow-up is appropriate after emergency treatment if there are questions about restarting medicine, persistent mild tiredness, movement symptoms, or prevention of another medication error.

    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

    New fainting, breathing difficulty, seizures, worsening confusion, or severe stiffness is not routine and requires urgent reassessment.

  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

Any suspected phenothiazine overdose needs immediate expert advice, even if the person feels well.

Symptoms and ECG changes can develop after the tablets were swallowed.

In the United States, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 .

Do not leave the person alone.

Do not make them vomit, give food or drink to a drowsy person, or let them drive to hospital.

Place an unconscious but breathing person on their side if it is safe to do so.

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