Intoxication/Withdrawal and Treatment

Question 1

What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

Answer 1

Tremors
Hallucinations
Seizures,
DTs

Question 2

What are the treatments for alcohol withdrawal?

Answer 2

Thiamine, MVI (for vitamin def), Folic acid, benzos

Question 3

What is the action of alcohol on the body?

Answer 3

Decreases glutamate and increases GABA

Question 4

What is the location of the action of amphetamine on the body? (cocaine)

Answer 4

Mesolimbic pathway and nucleus accumbens

Question 5

What are the signs and symptoms of an amphetamine intoxication?

Answer 5

Euphoria 
Hypervigilance 
Autonomic hyperactivity
Weight loss 
Dilated pupils 
Perceptual issues

Question 6

A patient comes in and is acting very paranoid about their surroundings, has an increased heart rate and BP, dilated pupils, and sweating. The patient is also having some difficulty understanding what is happening around them. What substance intoxication do you suspect?

Answer 6

Amphetamines

Question 7

How do you treat an amphetamine intoxication?

Answer 7

Antipsych
Benzos
anti-HTN

Question 8

What are the signs of amphetamine withdrawal?

Answer 8

Anxiety 
Tremors 
Headaches 
Increased appetite 
Depression 
RISK OF SUICIDE

Question 9

What are the signs and symptoms of inhalant intoxication?

Answer 9

Belligerence
Apathy 
Aggression 
Impaired Judgement 
Stupor 

Nasal Crusting
Rash
Dilated pupils
Parkinsonian like sx

Question 10

How do you treat inhalant intoxication?

Answer 10

Antipsych

Question 11

What are the signs and symptoms of inhalant withdrawal?

Answer 11

Nausea 
Excessive sweating 
Muscle cramps 
Headaches 
Chills 
Agitation 
Shaking 
Hallucinations

Question 12

What is used to treat inhalant withdrawal?

Answer 12

Benzos

Antipsychotics

Question 13

You have a patient come in and he appears to be apathetic and dysphoric

Upon examination you find that he is tired and is having trouble staying awake and notice that he has slow speech. His pupils are also pinpoint. What are you suspecting is the intoxicating agent?

Answer 13

Opiates

Question 14

What are the signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal?

Answer 14

Fever, chills, runny nose, diarrhea, muscle spasms, cramps

Question 15

What are the symptoms of a PCP intoxication?

Answer 15

Belligerence 
Psychomotor agitation 
Violence 
Nystagmus 
HTN 
Seizures

Question 16

Where does PCP act in the body?

Answer 16

Antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors

Question 17

A patient comes to the ED accompanied with friends, who state that the patient started acting weird at a party. They state that she has been talking about things that are not there and has been sweating a lot. You do an examination and notice that the patient has her jaw clenched. During the examination she starts to seize. What do you think is the offending agent?

Answer 17

Ecstasy: MDMA, Molly

Question 18

What do you treat an Ecstasy intoxication with?

Answer 18

Dantrolene
Benzos
Hydration

Question 19

What are the symptoms of benzo intoxication?

Answer 19

Slurred speech
Confusion
Memory deficits
Falls

Question 20

A patient comes into the ER with increased anxiety. While talking to the patient, you notice tremors. The patient also states that he has not been sleeping.

Given that the patient is anxious, has been having problems sleeping, and has tremors, what substance do you think the patient is withdrawing from?

Answer 20

Benzos

Question 21

How do you treat benzo withdrawal?

Answer 21

With benzos

Question 22

List the agent that is causing the intoxication based on the sx:
restlessness, agitation, insomnia, N/V, anxiety, tremors, seizures, hallucinations, increased heart rate
Respiratory depression

Answer 22

Barbiturates

Question 23

How do you treat a barbiturate withdrawal?

Answer 23

Phenobarbital

Question 24

Which is more dangerous, benzos or barbiturates?

Answer 24

Barbiturates