A wide variety of symptoms is possible. Symptoms will depend
on the substance, the amount taken and your health. Some
poisons only cause minor distress or harm while others can
cause serious problems and possibly death.
Symptoms can include:
• nausea and vomiting
• burning in the throat or stomach (oesophagitis or gastritis)
after drinking a corrosive substance
• dizziness
• high or low blood pressure
• fitting (seizures)
• drowsiness, confusion or coma (the person is unconscious)
• organ damage or failure (especially the liver or kidneys)
• breathing problems
• respiratory or cardiac arrest – when the person stops
breathing or their heart stops beating/pumping blood around
the body
• There may be no symptoms, or only minor symptoms,
even when severe damage is occurring in some overdoses
(for example: paracetamol), so always seek medical help.