BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCologne poisoningCologne is a scented liquid made from alcohol and essential oils. Cologne poisoning occurs when someone swallows cologne. This can be by accident or on purpose.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control 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 These ingredients in cologne can be poisonous:Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) Isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol)There may be other poisonous ingredients in cologne. Where Found These alcohols are found in various types of cologne. Symptoms Symptoms of poisoning from cologne may include:Abdominal pain Abdominal painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Anxiety Decreased level of consciousness, including coma (lack of responsiveness) Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (may be bloody) Dizziness Headache Trouble walking normally Trouble walking normallyWalking abnormalities can be caused by many different types of problems. Problems with the joints, (such as arthritis), bones (such as deformities),...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low body temperature, low blood sugar, and low blood pressure Too little or too much urine output Rapid heart rate Seizures (convulsions) Slowed breathing Slurred speech Stupor StuporDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Swaying from side to side Throat pain Uncoordinated movement Children are especially prone to developing low blood sugar. Symptoms of low blood sugar can include:Confusion Irritability Nausea Sleepiness Weakness Home Care Seek medical help right away. Do not make the 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 Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed Poison Control Your local poison control 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.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article 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 Bring the container with you to the hospital, 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:Blood and urine tests Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs and breathing machine (ventilator) ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Chest x-ray Endoscopy -- camera placed down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach, if vomiting blood EndoscopyEndoscopy is a way of looking inside the body using a flexible tube that has a small camera and light on the end of it. This instrument is called an...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fluids through a vein (by IV) Laxative Medicine to treat symptoms Tube through the nose into the stomach if vomiting blood Outlook (Prognosis) How well someone does depends on the amount of cologne swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.Cologne poisoning may make a person appear as if they are drunk. It can also cause severe breathing problems, seizures, and coma. A product with a lot of isopropyl alcohol could cause a more serious illness.Open ReferencesReferencesJansson PS, Lee J. Toxic alcohol poisoning. In: Parsons PE, Wiener-Kronish JP, Stapleton RD, Berra L, eds. Critical Care Secrets. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 76.McCoubrie D, Raghavan M. Ethanol and other 'toxic' alcohols. In: Cameron P, Little M, Mitra B, Deasy C, eds. Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 25.17.Nelson ME. Toxic alcohols. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 136.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 11/2/2023 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Cologne poisoningCologne is a scented liquid made from alcohol and essential oils. Cologne poisoning occurs when someone swallows cologne. This can be by accident or on purpose.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control 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 These ingredients in cologne can be poisonous:Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) Isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol)There may be other poisonous ingredients in cologne. Where Found These alcohols are found in various types of cologne. Symptoms Symptoms of poisoning from cologne may include:Abdominal pain Abdominal painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Anxiety Decreased level of consciousness, including coma (lack of responsiveness) Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (may be bloody) Dizziness Headache Trouble walking normally Trouble walking normallyWalking abnormalities can be caused by many different types of problems. Problems with the joints, (such as arthritis), bones (such as deformities),...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low body temperature, low blood sugar, and low blood pressure Too little or too much urine output Rapid heart rate Seizures (convulsions) Slowed breathing Slurred speech Stupor StuporDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Swaying from side to side Throat pain Uncoordinated movement Children are especially prone to developing low blood sugar. Symptoms of low blood sugar can include:Confusion Irritability Nausea Sleepiness Weakness Home Care Seek medical help right away. Do not make the 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 Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed Poison Control Your local poison control 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.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article 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 Bring the container with you to the hospital, 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:Blood and urine tests Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs and breathing machine (ventilator) ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Chest x-ray Endoscopy -- camera placed down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach, if vomiting blood EndoscopyEndoscopy is a way of looking inside the body using a flexible tube that has a small camera and light on the end of it. This instrument is called an...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fluids through a vein (by IV) Laxative Medicine to treat symptoms Tube through the nose into the stomach if vomiting blood Outlook (Prognosis) How well someone does depends on the amount of cologne swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.Cologne poisoning may make a person appear as if they are drunk. It can also cause severe breathing problems, seizures, and coma. A product with a lot of isopropyl alcohol could cause a more serious illness.Open ReferencesReferencesJansson PS, Lee J. Toxic alcohol poisoning. In: Parsons PE, Wiener-Kronish JP, Stapleton RD, Berra L, eds. Critical Care Secrets. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 76.McCoubrie D, Raghavan M. Ethanol and other 'toxic' alcohols. In: Cameron P, Little M, Mitra B, Deasy C, eds. Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 25.17.Nelson ME. Toxic alcohols. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 136.