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Warning-sign checks

Tetrahydrozoline poisoning: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services now if the person:

    • Is difficult to wake, collapses, or has a seizure
    • Has slow, shallow, irregular, or stopped breathing
    • Faints or develops blue, grey, or very pale skin
    • Has severe weakness, confusion, or loss of consciousness
    • May have swallowed tetrahydrozoline deliberately
    • May have been given it without their knowledge

    If they are not breathing normally, begin CPR if you are able and follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions.

    Routine follow-up, rather than emergency care, is appropriate for recurring eye redness or increasing reliance on redness-relief drops when there has been no swallowing and no whole-body symptoms.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Treat any known or suspected swallowing of tetrahydrozoline as urgent, even when there are no symptoms.

    Contact a poison centre immediately.

    Do not wait to see whether the person becomes unwell.

    Eye pain, light sensitivity, injury, sudden vision change, or thick discharge requires prompt eye assessment because these signs may point to another condition.

The article also says

If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them on their side if you can do so safely.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Tetrahydrozoline poisoning. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.