Causes and Risks:

• albuterol
• bitolterol
• ephedrine
• epinephrine
• isoetharine
• isoproterenol
• metaproterenol
• pirbuterol
• racepinephrine
• ritodrine
• terbutaline

Where Found:

• albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)
• bitolterol (Tornalate)
• ephedrine (Ephed II)
• epinephrine (Adrenalin, AsthmaHaler, Bronitin Mist, Bronkaid Mist, Medihaler-Epi, Primatene Mist, EpiPen Auto-Injector, Sus-Phrine)
• ethylnorepinephrine (Bronkephrine)
• isoetharine (Arm-a-Med Isoetharine, Bronkometer, Bronkosol, Dey-Dose Isoetharine, Dispos-a-Med Isoetharine, Dey-Lute Isoetharine)
• isoproterenol (Aerolone, Dey-Dose Isoproterenol, Dispos-a-Med Isoproterenol, Isuprel, Medihaler-Iso, Norisodrine Aerotrol, Vapo-Iso)
• metaproterenol (Alupent, Arm-a-Med Metaproterenol, Dey-Dose Metaproterenol, Dey-Lute Metaproterenol, Metaprel)
• pirbuterol (Maxair)
• racepinephrine (AsthmaNefrin, Dey-Dose Racepinephrine, Vaponefrin)
• terbutaline (Breathaire, Brethine, Bricanyl)
• ritodrine (Yutopar)

Symptoms:

• body as a whole
  • chills
  • fever
  • tremor, muscle spasms
  • arching of the back (severe)
  • convulsions
  • no urine output
  • low blood sugar or high blood sugar
  • low potassium
  • tingling of hands and feet
• respiratory
  • difficulty breathing
  • stop breathing
  • gasping for breath
• eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • dilated pupils
  • blurred vision
• skin
  • blue lips and fingernails (later)
• gastrointestinal
  • nausea and/or vomiting
• heart and blood vessels
  • rapid heartbeat
  • elevated blood pressure (initially)
  • low blood pressure (later)
• nervous system
  • nervousness
  • irritability
  • coma
  • suicidal tendencies

Home Treatment: If the medication was swallowed the standard procedure is to induce emesis (vomiting) unless the patient is unconscious or experiencing convulsions. Before inducing emesis, contact Poison Control for verification.

If instructed to induce emesis, the standard procedure is as follows:

Give the usual dose of ipecac syrup: 15 milliliters (ml) or 1 TABLEspoonful for children and 30 ml (2 TABLEspoonsful) for an adult. Follow with 1/2 glass or 4 ounces (oz.) of water for children or 8 to 12 oz. of water for adults. Repeat 1 more time in 1/2 hour if emesis has not occurred.

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

Call Poison Control: 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: Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Induce emesis.
• Administer activated charcoal.
• Administer a laxative.
• Use gastric lavage.
• Administer artificial respiration (breathing) if necessary.
• Maintain adequate respiration rate.
• Treat the symptoms.

Survival past 24 hours is usually a good sign that recovery will follow. Mental disturbances associated with long term use are rare and may require several months for recovery.