Sodium salicylate overdose

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Sodium salicylate overdose

Alternative Names:

Alka-Seltzer; Pepto-Bismol

Home Treatment:

Contact your Poison Control center for appropriate instructions.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed.

Administer activated charcoal.
Take a blood sample to determine the salicylate level in the blood.
Administer fluids (milk, fruit juices or, in severe cases, intravenous fluids).
Give sponge baths to control fever.
Give other medications as needed.
Treat complications as necessary.

Expectations (prognosis):

The prognosis (probable outcome) depends on the blood level of salicylates found: A potentially toxic dose is seen above 200 - 500 mg/kg (milligrams of salicylate per kilogram body weight). Recovery is likely if the acidic effect of salicylate can be neutralized.

Review Date: 5/10/2005
Reviewed By: William D. Whetstone, M.D., Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician 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. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.