Solutions & prevention
Medicines for Carbon monoxide poisoning
A dangerous, potentially fatal poisoning from breathing in an invisible, odourless gas from faulty appliances — preventable with alarms and appliance checks.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that has no colour, smell or taste, which makes it very hard to detect — earning it the name "the silent killer". It is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully, for example from faulty or poorly maintained boilers, heaters, gas cookers, fires and blocked flues, or from running engines and barbecues in enclosed spaces.
- How it is treated: If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, the immediate actions are to get everyone out into fresh air, open doors and windows, turn off suspected appliances if safe to do so, and seek medical help — calling 999 for anyone who is seriously unwell or unconscious, and the emergency gas line where relevant.
- Self-care: Fit and maintain audible carbon monoxide alarms, have fuel-burning appliances installed and serviced regularly by registered engineers, keep flues and chimneys clear, ensure good ventilation, and never use barbecues, generators or fuel heaters in enclosed spaces.
- When to seek help: If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get everyone into fresh air, open windows, turn off appliances if safe, and seek medical help.
What it is
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that has no colour, smell or taste, which makes it very hard to detect — earning it the name "the silent killer". It is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully, for example from faulty or poorly maintained boilers, heaters, gas cookers, fires and blocked flues, or from running engines and barbecues in enclosed spaces. When breathed in, carbon monoxide stops the blood carrying oxygen properly, starving the body's organs. Symptoms can be vague and are often mistaken for flu or food poisoning — headache, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, confusion and breathlessness — but crucially without a fever. Clues that point to CO include symptoms that improve when away from home and affect several people (or pets) in the same building at once. High levels can cause collapse, loss of consciousness and death, sometimes quickly, so it is a medical emergency.
How it is treated
If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, the immediate actions are to get everyone out into fresh air, open doors and windows, turn off suspected appliances if safe to do so, and seek medical help — calling 999 for anyone who is seriously unwell or unconscious, and the emergency gas line where relevant. Medical treatment centres on giving high levels of oxygen, which helps clear the carbon monoxide from the body, with hospital care and monitoring for those significantly affected. Prevention is hugely important and effective: fitting audible carbon monoxide alarms in the home (and replacing them as recommended), having gas and other fuel-burning appliances installed and serviced regularly by registered engineers, keeping flues and chimneys clear, and never using barbecues, generators or fuel-burning heaters in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. The essential messages are that CO is undetectable without an alarm, its symptoms are easily mistaken for other illnesses, and it is preventable.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Carbon monoxide poisoning
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
Fit and maintain audible carbon monoxide alarms, have fuel-burning appliances installed and serviced regularly by registered engineers, keep flues and chimneys clear, ensure good ventilation, and never use barbecues, generators or fuel heaters in enclosed spaces.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get everyone into fresh air, open windows, turn off appliances if safe, and seek medical help. Call 999 for anyone drowsy, confused, breathless or unconscious. Symptoms that ease away from home and affect several people or pets are a warning sign.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Carbon monoxide poisoning: frequently asked questions
Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous?
Because it has no colour, smell or taste, so it cannot be detected without an alarm, and its symptoms (headache, dizziness, nausea) are easily mistaken for flu. It stops the blood carrying oxygen, and high levels can cause collapse and death.
How can carbon monoxide poisoning be prevented?
Fit audible CO alarms, have fuel-burning appliances serviced regularly by registered engineers, keep flues and chimneys clear, ensure ventilation, and never use barbecues, generators or fuel heaters in enclosed spaces.
Keep reading
Related articles
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Carbon monoxide poisoning
- UKHSA / Gas Safe Register guidance
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