Introduction To Principals Of Toxicology Flashcards
What is the primary determinant of drug/substance toxicity?
The dose of the substance.
- almost everything can be toxic at the right dose
Toxic dose vs Lethal dose
Toxic dose (TD50) = the minimal dose of a product that produces toxic effects in 50% of subjects
Lethal dose (LD50) = the minimal dose of a product that kills 50% of subjects
legally a poison must have an LD50 of less than 50mg/kg
Therapeutic index
LD50/ED50
ED50 = effective dose = the minimal dose required for 50% of subjects to experience therapeutic effects
the larger the number, the safer the drug
is a measure of relative safety as well
botulinum toxin has the lowest LD50 of any drug on the market currently
What are extra toxicological terms and definitions that are used?
TLV = threshold limit value
- concentration below which there is no expected adverse effects over a 40hr week
ALD = average lethal dose
- estimated number from accidental deaths in humans
STEL = short term exposure level
- 4x a day which the average being equal to the TLV
What are the safeguards for poisoning?
Airway = get an ET tube and monitor for vomit aspiration
Breathing = supplemental O2 via canal or bags as needed
Circulation = ECG and pulses and BP
Get antidotes if present and able
- glucose/insulin = diabetic shock or hypoglycemia
- naloxone = narcotic overdose
Consider dialysis, N-Acetylcistine and activated charcoal, apomorphine/ipecac as needed to remove/reduce drug exposure
What are the common substances used to induce emesis in toxicity cases?
Apomorphine
Ipecac (methylcephaeline/ cephaeline)
Contraindications to emesis
- ingestion of petroleum hydrocarbons (will induce chemical pneumonitis)
- caustic acid/alkali agents
- seizing or comatose patients
What is gastric lavage?
Tubs is inserted through nose or stomach and irrigate substances out of the stomach
Activated charcoal
Oral administrative agent that binds/chelates numerous toxins and prevents absorption
- almost always induces emesis
- **contraindicated in caustic agents and petroleum hydrocarbons again (induces emesis and causes pneumonitis)
Extra info:
- is known to inactivate ipecac so dont use together
- **in order to achieve maximum effect, must administer within 30 min-2 hrs of ingested poison
Cathartics
Liquid substances that promote very rapid movement and elimination of poison through the GI tract while chelating the poison substances
- induces watery diarrhea very quickly
includes sorbitol, magnesium citrate/sulfate
Pralidoxime
chelating agent that is used for organophosphate poisoning (cholinergic toxidrome such as insecticides, sarin, tabun, etc.)
***administered w/ atropine to block muscarinic effects of parasympathetic nervous system.
Cyanide
Binds to cytochrome c oxidase and mitochondrial membranes of all cells and prevents ETC and cellular respiration
- really hits CNS and cardiac tissues the hardest and causes toxicity to these systems
LD50 = 2 mg/kg and produces death in 1-15 minutes
antidote = give amyl nitrate/sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate with oxygen and whole blood. This causes methemoglobin to be produces and combines with cyanide to chelate it and allow it to be eliminated
Botulinum toxin
most potent poison known and very rapidly absorbed
Prevents ACh release form nerve terminals by cleaving SNARE proteins.
- induces respiratory depression to kill
Treatment = lavage/emesis/charcoal or anti-toxin (type A/B/E) if time frame doesnt allow for the previous
- **also always remember your ABCs to seat up safety net
Heavy metals
All pharmacological heavy metals are chelators
- BAL/EDTA/DMSA/DMPS/EDTA
- **most commonly used are BAL (British anti-lewisite (dimercaprol)) and DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid (succimer))
DMSA (succimer)
Used to treat arsenic/mercury or lead poisoning
ADRs
- chills/fever/diarrhea/nausea/vomiting
Dosage
- children 1-11 yrs = 10mg/kg every 8 hrs for 5 days. Then every 12 hrs for 14 days (total 19 days)
- adults and children > 12 yrs = 10 mg/kg every 8 hrs for 5 days
Trivalent antitoxin (A/B/C)
Used for botulinum toxicity
- contains neutralizing antibodies against the most common human botulinum forms
Dosage = 10 mL vial diluted 1:10 with isotonic saline and administered via IV drip infusion
- usually does not require additional doses since the dose antibodies far exceed the serum levels