Poisoning and overdose

Question 1

Poisoning/overdose is a common call for the ambulance service.

Question 2

Poisoning/overdose accounts for 140,000 hospital admissions each year.

Question 3

70% of ED admissions involve deliberate poisoning with paracetamol

Question 4

paracetamol = the most commonly used drug.

Question 5

Poisoning denotes exposure to a substance that is dangerous to health or life.

Question 6

A poison can be

Answer 6

A drug
Household product
Industrial chemical
plant
animal derivative

Question 7

poisoning can be deliberate or accidental.

Question 8

OVERDOSE - the use of a quantity of drugs in excess of its intended or prescribed dose.

• may be accidental or deliberate.
• can involve the use of prescribed or illicit drugs

Question 9

Uk - paracetamol is the most common drug used in deliberate overdose.

Question 10

Around 170,000 people are admitted to hospitals with a suspected overdoses.

Question 11

Prognosis will depend on the type of poison, quantity taken and associated comorbidity

Question 12

Assessment involves

Answer 12

assessing LOC
breathing
circulation
history
examination

Question 13

Overdose: toxicity

Answer 13

Drug toxicity refers to the level of damage that a compound can cause to an organism.

the toxic effects of a drug are dose-dependent and can affect an entire system (like the cns) or it can affect an organ like the liver.

Drug toxicity usually occurs when the dose exceeds of the therapeutic efficacy.

However toxic and therapeutic effects can occur simultaneously.

Question 14

What does drug toxicity do?

Answer 14

1. damage enzymes so they do not work properly.
2. damage the organs
3. damage cell membranes
4. interfere with hormones.

Question 15

Poisoning can be -

• Accidental - frequently in children
• intentional (self harm)
• Non- accidental

Question 16

Sympathomimetic drugs.

• Agents that mimic responses due to stimulation of the sympathetic nerves.
• The agents can activate adrenergic receptors.
• Can indirectly activate adrenergic receptors by increasing norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Question 17

Serotonin syndrome

-Occurs when you take medication that causes high levels of the chemical serotonin to accumulate in the body.

• serotonin IS a chemical that the body produces. Serotonin is needed for nerve cell and brain function.
• TOO MUCH seretonin can cause SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ranging from mild (shivering and diahrrahea) to severe (muscle rigidity, fever and seizures).
• SEVERE SERETONIN SYNDROME CAN RESULT IN DEATH.
• Seretonin syndrome can occur when you increase the dose of certain medications or add a new drug to your regime. Some illegal drugs and dietary supplements are also associated with seretonin syndrome.
• Milder forms of serotonin syndrome may go away within a day of stopping the medication that causes symptoms and sometimes after taking drugs that block seretonin.