Sachets

• 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

Poisoning from ingestion of the ingredients of a sachet.

Poisonous Ingredient    Return to top

Potpourri is generally considered to be non-toxic.

Where Found    Return to top

• Various sachets

Symptoms    Return to top

• Respiratory (usually from allergic reactions)
  • Shallow breathing
  • May also be rapid
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Throat irritation
  • Eye irritation
• Gastrointestinal
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
• Nervous system
  • Unconsciousness
  • Dizziness

Home Treatment    Return to top

With any potentially toxic ingestion or allergic reaction, seek emergency medical care immediately. DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING) UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.

Before Calling Emergency    Return to top

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

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:

• Treat the allergic reaction with diphenhydramine and prednisone.
• For swallowed poison
  • Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage).
  • Activated charcoal administration.
  • Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach.
  • Give IV fluids.
  • Admission to the hospital.
  • Give an antidote.
  • Treat the symptoms.
• For skin exposure
  • Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days.

Expectations (prognosis)    Return to top

Sachets are considered minimally poisonous. Survival past 48 hours is usually a good sign that recovery will occur. With any potentially toxic ingestion or allergic reaction, seek emergency medical care immediately.