BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCampho-Phenique overdoseCampho-Phenique is an over-the-counter medicine used to treat cold sores and insect bites.Campho-Phenique overdose occurs when someone applies more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine or takes it by mouth. This can be by accident or on purpose. Inhaling a large amount of Campho-Phenique fumes may also cause symptoms.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with has an overdose, 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. Poisonous Ingredient Campho-Phenique contains both camphor and phenol.For information on products containing camphor alone, see camphor overdose.Camphor overdoseCamphor is a white substance with a strong odor that is commonly used in topical ointments and gels used for cough suppression and muscle aches. Cam...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Where Found Both camphor and phenol are in Campho-Phenique. However, camphor and phenol may be found separately in other products. Symptoms Below are symptoms of a Campho-Phenique overdose in different parts of the body.AIRWAYS AND LUNGSIrregular breathing BLADDER AND KIDNEYSLittle or no urine output EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROATBurning in the mouth or throat HEART AND BLOOD VESSELSCollapse (shock) CollapseFainting is a brief loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode most often lasts less than a couple of minutes and y...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Rapid pulse NERVOUS SYSTEMAgitation AgitationAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Coma (lack of responsiveness) ComaDecreased 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 Convulsions (seizures) SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dizziness Hallucinations HallucinationsHallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle stiffness or uncontrolled muscle movements Stupor (confusion and mental slowness) Twitching facial muscles SKINBluish-colored lips and fingernails Bluish-colored lips and fingernailsA bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin redness (from applying too much to the skin) Sweating (extreme) Yellow skin STOMACH AND INTESTINESAbdominal pain Diarrhea Excessive thirst Nausea and vomiting 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. For skin irritation or contact with the eyes, flush the area with cool water for 15 minutes. Before Calling Emergency Have this information ready: The person's age, weight, and condition The name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) When it was swallowed The 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 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 Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.Your provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated. Tests may include:Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray CT scan (advanced imaging) of the brain for neurologic symptoms Electrocardiogram (ECG)ElectrocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment may include:Fluids through a vein (IV) Laxatives Medicine to treat symptoms Skin and eye irritation may be treated with cool water irrigation and antibiotic cream, ointment, or eyedrops Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the lungs, and breathing machine (ventilator) Outlook (Prognosis) Survival past 48 hours often means the person will recover. Seizures and irregular heartbeat may start suddenly, within minutes of exposure, and pose the greatest risk to health and recovery.Keep all medicines in child-proof containers and out of the reach of children.Open ReferencesReferencesAronson JK. Paraffins. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:494-498.Wang GS, Buchanan JA. Hydrocarbons. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 147.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 7/1/2023 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. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Campho-Phenique overdoseCampho-Phenique is an over-the-counter medicine used to treat cold sores and insect bites.Campho-Phenique overdose occurs when someone applies more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine or takes it by mouth. This can be by accident or on purpose. Inhaling a large amount of Campho-Phenique fumes may also cause symptoms.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with has an overdose, 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. Poisonous Ingredient Campho-Phenique contains both camphor and phenol.For information on products containing camphor alone, see camphor overdose.Camphor overdoseCamphor is a white substance with a strong odor that is commonly used in topical ointments and gels used for cough suppression and muscle aches. Cam...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Where Found Both camphor and phenol are in Campho-Phenique. However, camphor and phenol may be found separately in other products. Symptoms Below are symptoms of a Campho-Phenique overdose in different parts of the body.AIRWAYS AND LUNGSIrregular breathing BLADDER AND KIDNEYSLittle or no urine output EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROATBurning in the mouth or throat HEART AND BLOOD VESSELSCollapse (shock) CollapseFainting is a brief loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode most often lasts less than a couple of minutes and y...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Rapid pulse NERVOUS SYSTEMAgitation AgitationAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Coma (lack of responsiveness) ComaDecreased 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 Convulsions (seizures) SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dizziness Hallucinations HallucinationsHallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle stiffness or uncontrolled muscle movements Stupor (confusion and mental slowness) Twitching facial muscles SKINBluish-colored lips and fingernails Bluish-colored lips and fingernailsA bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin redness (from applying too much to the skin) Sweating (extreme) Yellow skin STOMACH AND INTESTINESAbdominal pain Diarrhea Excessive thirst Nausea and vomiting 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. For skin irritation or contact with the eyes, flush the area with cool water for 15 minutes. Before Calling Emergency Have this information ready: The person's age, weight, and condition The name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) When it was swallowed The 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 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 Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.Your provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated. Tests may include:Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray CT scan (advanced imaging) of the brain for neurologic symptoms Electrocardiogram (ECG)ElectrocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment may include:Fluids through a vein (IV) Laxatives Medicine to treat symptoms Skin and eye irritation may be treated with cool water irrigation and antibiotic cream, ointment, or eyedrops Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the lungs, and breathing machine (ventilator) Outlook (Prognosis) Survival past 48 hours often means the person will recover. Seizures and irregular heartbeat may start suddenly, within minutes of exposure, and pose the greatest risk to health and recovery.Keep all medicines in child-proof containers and out of the reach of children.Open ReferencesReferencesAronson JK. Paraffins. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:494-498.Wang GS, Buchanan JA. Hydrocarbons. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 147.