Home Treatment:

Do not make the person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care provider.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, 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 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 your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• EKG
• Blood tests to check digitalis, magnesium, and potassium levels
• Breathing support
• Dialysis in severe cases
• Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effects of the overdose
• Methods to correct electrolyte (potassium, magnesium) imbalances
• Tube through the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)

Expectations (prognosis):

The greatest risk of death and bad outcomes is seen in young children and older adults. Older persons are especially likely to suffer from problems of chronic (long-term) cardiac glycoside poisoning.