Poisoning / emergency treatment

Question 1

what should be given If convulsions are protracted or recur frequently

Answer 1

• lorazepam or diazepam (preferably as emulsion) should be given by slow intravenous injection into a large vein.
• midazolam oromucosal solution [unlicensed use in adults and children under 3 months] can be given by the buccal route or diazepam can be administered as a rectal solution IF IV ROUTE IS NOT APPROPRIATE

Question 2

What can be used to eliminate GI absorption of toxins (from drugs)

Answer 2

activated charcoal (effective up to one hour after ingestion of poison)

Question 3

repeated doses of activated charcoal are given with what drugs?

Answer 3

Carbamazepine
Dapsone
Phenobarbital
Quinine
Theophylline

Question 4

What substance overdose should NOT be treated with charcoal?

Answer 4

petroleum distillates, corrosive substances, alcohols, malathion, cyanides and metal salts including iron and lithium salts.

Question 5

Antidote for opioid poisoning

Answer 5

Naloxone

Question 6

Signs of opioid poisoning

Answer 6

cause coma, respiratory depression, and pinpoint pupils.

Question 7

what opioids are only partially reversed by naloxone?

Answer 7

Buprenorphine

Question 8

paracetamol overdose

Answer 8

Acetylcysteine

Question 9

What is used to treat iron salt poisoning

Answer 9

desferrioxamine mesilate,

Question 10

What is required if an acute overdosage of lithium presenting without features of toxicity

Answer 10

to take measures to increase urine output (e.g. by increasing fluid intake but avoiding diuretics)

Question 11

what are some of the serious effects of theophylline poisoning

Answer 11

haematemesis, convulsions, and supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Severe hypokalaemia may develop rapidly.

Question 12

Treatment of cyanide poisoning

Answer 12

Dicobalt edetate

A regimen of sodium nitrite followed by sodium thiosulfate is an alternative