What may overdose with nitroglycerin threaten? The consequences of uncontrolled administration of this drug will be presented below. You will also learn about the purposes for which this medication is used, and whether it has side effects.
Basic information
How does an overdose occur? Nitroglycerin is the most important drug that is available in almost every home medicine cabinet. Many people with a sick heart take it uncontrollably. As a result of this, they suffer even more, since an overdose occurs.
Nitroglycerin is a kind of first aid that our heart needs as air. Without any exaggeration, we can say that this drug saved more than one life. Everyone knows that after taking it inside, you immediately feel relief. But, unfortunately, not everyone thinks about the possible consequences that arise after excessive use of this medicine.
Experts say that some emergency conditions require repeated use of this medication. Can an overdose develop in this case? Nitroglycerin, taken in large quantities, really causes serious complications. Moreover, sometimes such an uncontrolled intake of the drug even leads to death.
What is it used for?
What is nitroglycerin? Instructions for use (tablets with the same name are sold in all pharmacies) claims that this is a fairly popular medicine, which belongs to the group of vasodilators, that is, vasodilating substances. It is actively used in cardiology practice, and sometimes in gastroenterology. So what does the drug in question affect?
Mechanism of action
Nitroglycerin helps the heart well. It is able to dilate blood vessels, as well as increase the flow of oxygen. That is why this tool is often used for angina pectoris, that is, a disease that is characterized by the appearance of pain in the heart muscle due to lack of air. Can an overdose occur in this case? Nitroglycerin can be addictive. Therefore, over time, the patient’s body adapts to the prescribed dosage, and the drug must be taken in larger quantities. This state of affairs often leads to the development of complications.
What other diseases does the medicine in question help with? Experts argue that this tool is often used for diseases of the biliary tract, as it relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract.
It should also be noted that sometimes nitroglycerin is used for embolism (i.e. blockage) of the central retinal artery of the visual organ.
Safe doses
At what dosage should nitroglycerin be taken? The lethal dose of this drug is listed below. As for the standard dosage of the medication, which is most often recommended to patients, it is 1-2 tablets per day. If this tool was purchased in the form of a solution, then it is taken in the amount of 4 drops per day.
At this dose, nitroglycerin is not harmful. But the patient should slightly increase the dosage - and the drug immediately contributes to the development of side effects.
It should also be said that critical concentrations of this agent immediately cause poisoning. As a rule, it occurs already with the use of about 25-50 mg of this substance.
It should be noted that nitroglycerin is quite easily absorbed through the skin. Therefore, in case of accidental contact with the body, its toxic effect is manifested very quickly.
Nitroglycerin: Lethal Dose
Taking what dosage of the drug can be fatal? Experts say that the lethal dose of this substance varies between 100-150 mg per 1 kg of patient weight.
As you know, the elderly often take nitroglycerin. This is due to the fact that it is this category of patients that complains of constant pain in the heart, and also suffers from memory impairment. That is why an overdose of a medicine often happens due to violations of banal safety rules and elementary forgetfulness, especially if the substance was acquired in the form of an oral solution.
Contraindications
In what cases should nitroglycerin be prescribed? Instructions for use (tablets and oral drops have the same prohibitions) indicate the following contraindications:
- increased intracranial pressure;
- myocardial infarction (in the acute period);
- the presence of glaucoma;
- low blood pressure;
- cerebral arteriosclerosis (expressed);
- pregnancy, childhood and lactation.
Side effects of nitroglycerin in case of overdose
What side effects can develop after the misuse of the drug in question? Experts talk about the following adverse reactions:
- severe general weakness;
- blurred vision;
- dizziness;
- severe headache, especially in the first days of admission;
- allergy, manifested in the form of urticaria;
- shock (in especially severe cases);
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- redness of the skin of the face.
Consequences of an overdose
It is no secret to anyone that large doses of drugs are not beneficial to anyone. And nitroglycerin is no exception. When taking a large amount of the drug, its adverse reactions will not take long. As a rule, they are expressed in the following:
- blue lips, palms and nail plates;
- nausea, dry mouth, and vomiting;
- dizziness, loss of consciousness, severe weakness and shortness of breath;
- increased body temperature, the development of seizures, increased intracranial pressure ;
- orthostatic collapse.
A fatal outcome after an overdose of nitroglycerin occurs within 2 minutes after taking the drug in a dosage of 210 mg / kg.
First aid
What to do if the patient has taken a high dose of a drug such as nitroglycerin? Help with an overdose should be provided immediately. If you do not cope with the consequences of an uncontrolled medication in the near future, then this can lead to the development of complications or even death.
So what to do with an overdose of nitroglycerin? To do this, experts recommend that you adhere to the following rules:
- Immediately stop the access of the drug to the patient.
- If the solution accidentally gets on the skin, then they must be washed immediately.
- In case of poisoning with oral tablets, the victim should be brought into a horizontal position, as well as his legs raised.
- In case of an overdose of nitroglycerin, it is necessary to provide the person with access to oxygen. In the event that he is in a stuffy room, he should be taken outside.
- Prior to the arrival of an ambulance, it is allowed to rinse the stomach of the victim using saline or warm water.
- Nitroglycerin has no antidote. To prevent a sharp drop in pressure, caffeine is prescribed to the patient. Also, in the hospital, plasma-substituting and methylene blue solutions are often used.
To summarize
Now you know that nitroglycerin not only helps the patient, but can also harm him. A deliberate or accidental increase in the dose of this medicine often results in a temporary rash on the skin, as well as a fatal outcome. In addition, as a result of a sharp decrease in pressure in the patient, the kidneys may fail. In this regard, additional control over the correct intake of nitroglycerin will never hurt.