Clinical Toxicology 1 and 2 Flashcards
Opioid toxidrome:
- altered mental status
- Vitals: decreased RR, slight decreases in HR, BP, temp;
- Pinpoint pupils
- Decreased bowel sounds
List some opioids
- Heroin (injected, ingested, smoked)
- Fentanyl (injected or ingested)
Also codeine, hydrocodone, meperidine, oxycodone, methadone, buprinorphine (agonist/antagonist)
How to deal with opioid toxidrome:
- Remove obstructive process
- Assess and protect if necessary
- IV fluids in sick patients
- O2 100%
- Dextrose/thiamine (look for altered mental status with hypoglycemia); also think about thiamine
Naloxone properties; what is the possible withdrawal?:
- Comp mu, delta, kappa opioid receptor antagonist
- depressed RR best predicts response
- Higher doses required for SYNTHETIC opioids
- Could precipitate withdrawal IF TOLERANT!!
- Half life of 15 min;
flu-like symptoms (N/V, diarrhea), piloerection, yawning, irritability, but NORMAL MENTAL STATUS (15-30 min)
Natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic opioids:
Natural: morphine, codeine;
Semi-synthetic: heroin, hydromorphone, oxycodone
Synthetic: meperidine, methadone, fentanyl, also buprinorphine
Other opioid receptor antagonists and properties:
Nalmefene and naltrexone;
differ in pharmacokinetics, may produce a PROLONGED withdrawal state (N/V, piloerection/yawning)
Benzo toxidrome; benzo uses:
- DEPRESSED mental status
- NORMAL vitals
- Other sedative hypnotics can cause respiratory depression;
benzo can treat toxins causing CNS stimulation and anticholinergic toxins
Some key sedative hypnotics:
Benzos: diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, roofies (rohypnol)
gamma-hydroxybutyrate: chloral hydrate, methaqualone, etomidate, propofol, ethanol
Barbituates: phenobarbitol, amobarbital
Treatment of benzos:
- ABC’s, substrates
- supportive care
- consider FLUMAZENIL (comp non-selective benzodiazepine receptor antagonist)
Dangers of flumazenil:
- can precipitate acute withdrawal
- seizures possible in mixed OD
- not uniform in reversal of RD
For any person who tries to harm themselves, what should we do?
APAP (acetaminophen) level
For acetaminophen toxicity, what would you expect at each stage?
1: .5-24 hrs (asymp, or mild GI irritation)
2: 24-72 hrs (LFT and renal function abnormalities w/w/o RUQ pain); can revert to normal
3: (72-96 hrs): hepatic necrosis w/w/o renal failure but can revert to normal
4: (4 days to 2 wks): can progress to liver failure, transplant, death, or go to normal
How can one treat APAP poisoning? Mech of this antidote:
N-ACETYLCYSTEINE (best if given within 8 hrs of overdose); good for all stages of poisoning (if we’re forced to use the accessory P450 pathways);
sulfhydryl groups supplied, antioxidant for microcirculation improvement, glutathione supplied, decrease cerebral edema and improve CO to help with liver regen
NAC indicated when
- you know level and known time of ingestion over Rumack-Matthew nomogram
- Patient showing signs of hepatotoxicity
- APAP level won’t be available within 8 hrs of ingestion
Some newer prognosis criteria for acetaminophen toxicity:
Think serum lactate and serum phosphate being high (e.g. 2-3 days after overdose)
TCA toxidrome:
- ANTICHOLINERGIC
- Catechol reuptake inhibitor
- Alpha adrenergic blocker (hypotension)
- GABA antagonist (seizures)
- KILLED by NA CHANNEL BLOCKER QUALITIES (phase 0 slowed and QRS complex widened, leading to seizures if more than .1 sec, or dysrhythmias if more than .16 sec)