Oleander

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Oleander

Alternative Names:

Rosebay poisoning; Yellow oleander poisoning; Thevatia peruviana poisoning

Home Treatment:

Call Poison Control.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the plant, if known
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

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 U.S. 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.

Bring the plant with you to the emergency room, if possible.

See National Poison Control Center.

What to expect at the emergency room:

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

The patient may receive:

EKG
Blood tests to determineserum magnesium andserum potassium levels
Medicine to reverse effect of the poison (antidote)
Treatment to correct electrolyte (potassium, magnesium) imbalances
Medicines to treat symptoms
Activated charcoal
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)

Expectations (prognosis):

If the individual survives the first 24 hours their chances of survival are very good.

Review Date: 3/21/2006
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.

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