MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Phenylbutazone overdose

Skip navigation


Medical Encyclopedia
Other encyclopedia topics:	A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9

Phenylbutazone overdose

Contents of this page:
Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Before Calling Emergency Poison Control What to Expect at the Emergency Room Outlook (Prognosis)

Definition

Phenylbutazone is a very powerful anti-inflammatory drug. It is no longer sold in the United States for human use. It is only sold for animal use, usually horses and dogs. Phenylbutazone overdose occurs when someone takes too much of this drug.

Poisonous Ingredient

Phenylbutazone

Where Found

Butazolidin
Azolid

Note: This list may not be all-inclusive.

Symptoms

Blood
- Anemia
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensitivity to light
Gastrointestinal
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Possible loss of blood from the stomach and intestines
Heart
- Low blood pressure
Lungs
- Labored breathing
- Slow or rapid breathing
Nervous system
- Agitation
- Coma
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Drowsiness
- Headache (severe)
- Incoherence (not understandable)
- Movement disorder
- Unsteadiness
Skin
- Rash

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed
If the medication was prescribed for the patient

Poison 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

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. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The patient may receive:

Activated charcoal
A tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
Laxative

Outlook (Prognosis)

This drug is very toxic. Overdoses can be deadly, even at very low doses, particuarly in small children.

Update Date: 5/18/2007

Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. 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 1997-2008, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.