Thioridazine overdose
Thioridazine hydrochloride overdoseThioridazine is an older, first generation antipsychotic prescription medicine used to treat serious mental and emotional disorders, including schizophrenia. Thioridazine overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine, either by accident or on purpose.
This article is for information only. 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 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.
Overdose
An overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticlePoisonous Ingredient
Thioridazine
Where Found
Thioridazine hydrochloride is the generic name of this medicine.
Symptoms
Below are symptoms of an overdose of thioridazine in different parts of the body.
BLADDER AND KIDNEYS
- Cannot completely empty the bladder
EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT
- Blurred vision
Blurred vision
There are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see...
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- Dry mouth
- Nasal congestion
Nasal congestion
A stuffy or congested nose occurs when the tissues lining it become swollen. The swelling is due to inflamed blood vessels. The problem may also in...
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- Ulcers in the mouth, on the tongue, or in the throat
Ulcers in the mouth, on the tongue, or ...
Mouth ulcers are sores or open lesions in the mouth.
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- Yellow eyes
HEART AND BLOOD
- Rapid heartbeat
- Slow heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat
- High or very low blood pressure
LUNGS
- Difficulty breathing
- Fluid buildup in the lungs
- Breathing may stop in severe cases
MOUTH, STOMACH, AND INTESTINAL TRACT
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
MUSCLES AND BONES
- Muscle spasms
Muscle spasms
Muscle cramps are when a muscle gets tight (contracts) without you trying to tighten it, and it does not relax. Cramps may involve all or part of on...
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- Neck or face stiffness
NERVOUS SYSTEM
-
Drowsiness, coma
Coma
Decreased 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 - Difficulty walking
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Hypothermia (body temperature is lower than normal)
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is dangerously low body temperature, below 95°F (35°C).
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Seizures
A seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...
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- Weakness, lack of coordination
OTHER
- Menstrual changes
- Blue discoloration of the skin (changing to a purplish color)
Blue discoloration of the skin
A bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.
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Home Care
Get 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 medicine and the strength of the medicine, if known
- Time it was swallowed
- Amount swallowed
- If the medicine was prescribed for the person
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.
Local poison control center
For 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 ArticleThis 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 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:
- Activated charcoal
- Blood and urine tests
- Breathing support, including oxygen and a tube through the mouth into the lungs
- CT scan of the brain
- ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
ECG
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Intravenous fluids (IV, given through a vein)
- Laxative
- Medicine (sodium bicarbonate) to help reverse the effect of the poison
- Tube through the mouth into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
Tube through the mouth into the stomach...
Gastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleGastric lavage
Gastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - X-rays (chest and abdomen)
Outlook (Prognosis)
Recovery depends on the amount of damage to the person's body. Survival past 2 days is usually a good sign. The most serious side effects are usually due to damage to the heart. If heart damage can be stabilized, recovery is likely. But if breathing has been depressed for a long period before treatment, brain injury may occur.
References
Aronson JK. Thioridazine. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:895-899.
Monas J, Skolnik AB. Antipsychotics. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 150.
Review Date: 4/1/2023
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.