Toxic Medicine
It is the nature of younger children, especially toddlers, to put anything and everything into their mouths. While some substances will make your child sick, others can be deadly, even in small amounts. Knowing which medicines are deadly, and how to recognize a poisoning, is critical for every parent and caregiver.
Deadly Medicines
Some common prescription and
over-the-counter medications are
so toxic to children that small
doses can be fatal. The
following are the most deadly:
- Iron --
iron supplements,
multivitamins with iron,
prenatal vitamins
+ Causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, shock, seizures and coma.
- Chloroquine,
quinine, quinidine and
hydroxychloroquine
+ Causes coma, seizures, abnormal heart rates and shock.
- Blood
pressure-control medicines
-- Clonidine and Catapres
+ Causes coma, low blood pressure and slow heart rate.
- Sulfonylureas
-- Glyburide,
Tolbutamide, (brand names:
Micronase, Diabinese,
Orinase and Glucotrol).
+ Causes low blood sugar and coma.
- Tricyclic
antidepressants --
Tofranil, Desipramine and
Amytriptyline (brand names:
Pamelor and Elavil).
+ Causes coma, seizures and abnormal heartbeats.
- Lindane
-- (brand name: Kwell)
+ A teaspoon or two leads to seizures.
-
Diphenoxylate/atropine
-- Lomotil
+ Produces respiratory depression and coma.
- Beta blockers
-- propranolol, carvedilol,
atenolol, labetalol, nadolol,
and metoprolol tartrate.
(brand names include Inderal,
Coreg, Tenormin, Normodyne,
Trandate, Corgard and
Lopressor)
+ Causes very low blood pressure and slow heartbeats in kids.
- Theophylline
+ Causes seizures and abnormal heartbeats.
- Calcium channel
blockers --
verapamil, diltiazem,
nifedipine, nicardipine,
felodipine, isradipine,
amlodipine, nisoldipine and
bepridil. (Trade names
include: Procardia, Veralin,
Calan, Isoptin, Cardizem,
Plendil, Dilacor, Sular,
Norvasc, Dynacirc, Adalat
and Vascor)
+ Causes low blood pressure and slow heartbeats.
- Camphor --
Camphorated oil, Ben-Gay
Children's Rub and Vicks
VapoRub
+ Causes seizures when ingested.
- Oil of
wintergreen --
(used in Ben-Gay)
+ Ingesting one teaspoon can be life threatening for a toddler.
- Nose sprays and
eyedrops -- Contain
medication related to
Clonidine (Visine, Afrin)
+ Causes coma, low blood pressure and slow heart rate.
- Benzocaine
-- found in Orajel, Anbesol,
and Vagisil
+ One teaspoon effects the blood's ability to carry oxygen, causing a child to turn blue.
What to Do
Many medicines can
cause reactions of varying
severity in children.
Regardless of the substance
ingested, adults must act
anytime children accidentally
swallow any medication.
If the child is observed swallowing a substance, contact the National Poison Control Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222. This resource is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even if your child appears unaffected, always seek their expertise.
On the other hand, if your child is behaving abnormally, and you suspect a poisoning has occurred, contact your doctor first. Symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain could result from illness or poisoning. Unresponsiveness, coma, seizures, or shallow or no breathing could be signs of poisoning. Your physician is best able to distinguish symptoms and decide upon a course of treatment for your child