Calcium carbonate overdose

• Alternative names
• Definition
• Poisonous Ingredient
• Where Found
• Symptoms

• Home Treatment
• Before Calling Emergency
• Poison Control, or a local emergency number
• What to expect at the emergency room
• Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names   

Definition    Return to top

Calcium carbonate poisoning is an overdose of calcium carbonate, which is commonly available in supplements and antacids.

Poisonous Ingredient    Return to top

Calcium

Where Found    Return to top

• Calcium carbonate
• Some antacids (Tums, Chooz)
• Some mineral supplements
• Some vitamin and mineral supplements
• Some hand lotions

Symptoms    Return to top

• Body as a whole
  • Bone pain
• Gastrointestinal
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
• Heart and blood vessels
  • Irregular heartbeat
• Nervous system:
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Coma

Home Treatment    Return to top

DO NOT induce vomiting. If you suspect a calcium carbonate overdose, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Before Calling Emergency    Return to top

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• When it was swallowed
• The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number    Return to top

See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room    Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Placing a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric or NG tube) to wash out the stomach
• Administering activated charcoal
• Taking a blood sample
• Giving IV fluids
• Admission to the hospital
• Treating the symptoms

Expectations (prognosis)    Return to top

Because calcium carbonate is considered a fairly nontoxic substance, recovery is quite likely. Chronic overuse is more serious than a single overdose.