Causes and Risks:

• nicotine

Where Found:

• nicotine is found in some animal tranquilizers.

Symptoms:

• body as a whole
  • muscular twitching
  • weakness
  • convulsions (sudden onset)
  • coma (sudden onset)
  • collapse (sudden onset)
• respiratory
  • rapid breathing
  • difficulty breathing
  • stop breathing
• eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • constricted or dilated pupils (large or small black area of the eye)
• gastrointestinal
  • abdominal cramps
  • vomiting
• heart and blood vessels
  • heartbeat - pounding, rapid, or slow
  • elevated blood pressure
• nervous system
  • confusion
  • excitement
  • depression

Home Treatment: The normal treatment is to induce emesis (vomiting) unless the patient is unconscious or experiencing convulsions; however, before inducing emesis, contact Poison Control to verify that is the correct treatment.

If instructed to induce emesis, proceed as follows or as otherwise instructed:

Give the usual dose of ipecac syrup: 15 milliliter (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.
• Use gastric lavage.
• Administer activated charcoal.
• Administer a laxative.
• Treat the symptoms.

If the patient survives the first 4 hours, then complete recovery is very likely. Following a period of weakness, recovery is normally gradual.