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Dr. McGeorge Reports Deadliest Drugs Children Can Swallow

POSTED: Wednesday, January 16, 2008
UPDATED: 5:32 pm EST January 16, 2008

Local 4 Dr. Frank McGeorge reported on four of the deadliest things a child can swallow. Most medicines if taken by a child in their adult dose can be dangerous, but to make this list, the medications or chemicals had to be strong enough to kill in one pill or swallow and common enough that people probably have them in their homes.

McGeorge warned all medicines should be kept out of reach of children, but the ones on this list are the most critical.

Experts said it's as simple as a purse left on the floor that little hands can reach, an afternoon at the grandparents, or chemicals that might look tasty to a child. Children are at a much greater risk for poisoning simply because they're so much smaller.

McGeorge reported any medicine powerful enough to lower an adult's blood pressure or slow their pulse will do the same or more in a child. The first deadly category is blood pressure medicines. The most dangerous drugs in this group are a class called calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem or cardizem.

No. 2 on the list is narcotics, in particular fentanyl patches. McGeorge said these are commonly prescribed after surgery or for cancer patients.

McGeorge explained all patches that deliver medication through the skin are dangerous if chewed or swallowed because of the way they're designed. The center layer holds a very high concentration of the drug, so it can be forced through the skin into the blood stream. Patches designed to be worn over several days contain an even larger supply of the medication. McGeorge cautioned even patches that have been used up still contain a deadly amount of the drug in the middle layer and should be disposed of carefully.

No. 3 on the list of the most dangerous drugs to swallow is iron pills. These pills are actually very common because they're often prescribed to women for anemia after pregnancy. McGeorge warns iron pills look very similar to popular brands of candy. Iron was the No. 1 killer of children younger than 6 until packaging laws were changed in 1999. The number of deaths has fallen, but it's still a dangerous problem.

The last category on the list is not a medicine. It's windshield fluid and antifreeze. People routinely pour these chemicals into smaller containers to save space. To a child, these brightly colored fluids appear similar to juice or sports drinks. McGeorge reported windshield fluid can kill with as little as one swallow. Antifreeze is sweet to the taste and also very dangerous.

Here is a partial list of other medications that are potentially deadly in small doses.

Calcium Channel Blockers (Blood pressure medicine) Diltiazem Cardizem Verapamil Calan Nifedipine Procardia

Clonidine or Catapress

Oral Hypoglycemics (Diabetes Pills) Glyburide Micronase Glipizide Glucotrol Chlorpropamide

Tricyclic Antidepressants Imipramine Tofranil Desipramine Norpramin Doxepin Sinequan

Opioid Narcotics Fentanyl Hydrocodone Vicodin Codeine Tylenol #3 Morphine

Oil of Wintergreen Methyl Salicylate

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