Rhea Phenobarbital Overdosage

Symptoms: The toxic effects of overdosage include prolonged coma, respiratory depression and cardiovascular depression with hypotension and shock leading to renal failure. Hypothermia is common, with associated pyrexia during recovery.
Treatment: Following the recent ingestion of an overdose of a barbiturate, the stomach may be emptied by gastric lavage and aspiration. The prime objectives of management are then intensive symptomatic and supportive therapy with particular attention being paid to the maintenance of the electrolyte balance.
Several methods aimed at the active removal of a barbiturate with a long elimination half-life, eg phenobarbital have been employed and include forced diuresis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and charcoal hemoperfusion, but with the possible exception of charcoal hemoperfusion the hazards of such procedures are generally considered to outweigh any purported benefits.