Acetaminophen And Codeine Overdose

Timeline

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed
• If the medication was prescribed for the patient

Symptoms & Signs

• Airways and lungs
  • Breathing shallow
  • Breathing slow and labored
  • Respiratory arrest
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Pinpoint pupils
• Heart and blood vessels
  • Low blood pressure
• Nervous system
  • Coma
  • Convulsions
  • Drowsiness
  • Stupor (lack of alertness)
• Skin
  • Bluish skin (fingernails and lips)
  • Cold, clammy skin
  • Heavy sweating
• Stomach and intestines
  • Spasms of the stomach and intestines
  • Vomiting
  • Kidney and liver failure

Prognosis

If an antidote can be given, recovery from an acute overdose often occurs within 24 - 48 hours.

Ingredient

Acetaminophen combined with codeine

Control

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

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.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

Care

Seek immediate medical help. This type of overdose can cause death. Do NOT make the person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

During Treatment

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The patient may be admitted to the hospital and may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Breathing support (artificial respiration)
• Fluids by IV
• Medicine (antidote) called naloxone to reverse the effect of the poison (multiple doses may be needed)
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)

If there is a high level of acetaminophen in the blood, the patient will be given N-Acetyl cysteine. Without this counteracting drug, called an antidote, deadly liver failure will occur.

Source

Acetaminophen with codeine is commonly sold under the name Tylenol #3.

Content provided by:

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). 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. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.