OVERDOSING AND POISONING Flashcards
What components of a physical exam should be emphasized for a Overdose/Poisoned patient?
1) Mental status
2) Pupil size and reactivity
3) Skin temp
4) Presence or absence of sweat
5) Muscular tone
6) GI motility
7) Mucus membrane moisture
What is a collection of signs and symptoms that are observed after an exposure to a substance “toxic fingerprint”?
Toxidrome
If the toxin that was ingested is unknown, what medications should always be considered “Co-Ingestants?”
Acetaminophen and Aspirin
Acetaminophen and Aspirin are common overdoses and serum levels are important in the management of the patient. It is also important to consider these as co- ingestants in any unknown ingestion
Resuscitation of the poisoned patient begins with:
A) Management of Airway, Breathing, Circulation
B) Administration of Antidotes
C) Obtaining Toxicological Screening Test of Blood
D) Obtaining Toxicological Screening Test of Urine
A) Management of Airway, Breathing, Circulation
What is the priority for treatment of a poisoned patient that has been contaminated?
Removal of clothing and irrigation of skin
Overdose/Poisoning:
A patient is found unconscious, after doing a quick physical exam you find the patients eyes are dilated. What is the next step in treatment?
Naloxone
Dosage 0.4-2.0mg IV/IM/SQ
every 2-4 minutes
What is the average half-life of Naloxone?
60 minutes
Overdose/Posioning:
How is hypotension first treated?
Fluid Bolus
Overdose/Poisoning
What is the first line treatment for seizures?
Benzodiazepines
Overdose/Poisoning
Treatment for ocular exposure?
Copious Irrigation
Overdose/Poisoning
What are the methods of GI Decontamination?
1) Orogastric lavage (following placement of an NG tube)
2) Activated Charcoal
What is the most commonly used method of GI Decontamination?
Activated Charcoal
All patients with intentional poisoning/overdoses should be referred for __________________ once stable.
Psychiatric Evaluation
Toxidrome:
Dry as a bone, red as a beet, hot as a hare, blind as a bat, mad as a hatter and stuffed as a pipe.
Anticholinergic
The effects of the Anticholinergic are due to disturbances in the __________ and __________.
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
and
Brain
Antihistamines (primarily diphenhydramine), phenothiazines,muscle relaxers, antidepressants, and Jimson weed are examples of __________ substances
Anticholinergic
What medications are common examples of Anticholinergic substances?
1) Antihistamines (primarily diphenhydramine)
2) Phenothiazines
3) Muscle relaxers
4) Antidepressants
5) Jimson weed
What are findings associated with Anticholinergic substances?
1) Absent bowel sounds
2) Mydriasis
3) Hyperthermia
4) dry skin/mucus membranes
5) Urinary retention
6) Confusion/agitation (Agitated, NOT really VIOLENT)
7) Tachycardia
8) Flushed skin
Dry as a bone, red as a beet, hot as a hare, blind as a bat, mad as a hatter and stuffed as a pipe.
What is the most common EKG finding with Anticholinergic substances?
Sinus Tachycardia
What EKG findings can be seen with Anticholinergic substances?
1) Sinus Tachycardia
2) Wide Complex Tachycardia
3) Prolonged QT Intervals
What is the emergency care procedures for a patient that has taken an Anticholinergic Substance?
1) Mostly supportive
2) IV, O2, monitor
3) GI decontamination with Activated charcoal (may be useful even if greater than 1 hour due to delayed GI motility)
4) Treat hyperthermia and seizures (Benzodiazepines)
5) If acutely agitated - Benzodiazepines
6) MEDAVICE/MEDEVAC
What is the Dosage for Naloxone?
Dosage 0.4-2.0mg IV/IM/SQ
What is the treatment for seizure, hyperthermia and acute agitation in a patient that has taken Anticholinergic Substance?
Benzodiazepines
What type of medications are Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Paroxetine, Fluvoxamine, Citalopram and Escitalopram?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s)
What is the most serious adverse effect of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s)?
Serotonin Syndrome
How do most patients with an acute overdose of SSRI’s present?
Asymptomatic
After the Acute Overdose phase, patients that took SSRI’s develop what symptoms?
1) Nausea and Vomiting
2) Sedation
3) Tachycardia
Life threatening complications are _________ in patients that are overdosing on SSRI’s.
Uncommon
What are the Emergency Care Procedures for an SSRI Overdose?
1) Supportive care (IV / O2 / Monitor)
2) MEDADVIE / MEDEVAC
3) If symptomatic gain IV access and place on monitors
4) Benzodiazapines for Seizure (MEDEVAC)
What is potentially fatal adverse drug reaction to serotonergic medication, characterized by autonomic and neuromuscular dysfunction?
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin Syndrome is a fatal adverse drug reaction to SSRIs that is characterized by what two dysfunctions?
Autonomic Dysfunction
Neuromuscular dysfunction
What are the Clinical Features of Serotonin Syndrome?
1) Cognitive and behavioral - Confusion, Agitation, Coma, Anxiety, Hypomania, Lethargy, Seizures
2) Autonomic - Hyperthermia, Diaphoresis, Tachycardia, Hyper/Hypotension, Dilated pupils, Salivation
3) Neuromuscular - Myoclonus (Muscle Jerks/Spasms) Hyperreflexia, Rigidity, Tremor, Ataxia, Shivering, Nystagmus
What are the Cognitive/Behavioral clinical features of Serotonin Syndrome? (7)
1) Confusion
2) Agitation
3) Coma
4) Anxiety
5) Hypomania
6) Lethargy
7) Seizures
What are the Autonomic clinical features of Serotonin Syndrome? (6)
1) Hyperthermia
2) Diaphoresis
3) Tachycardia
4) Hyper/Hypotension
5) Dilated Pupils
6) Salivation
What are the Neuromuscular clinical features of Serotonin Syndrome? (8)
1) Myoclonus (Muscle jerks/spasms)
2) Hyperreflexia
3) Rigidity
4) Tremor
5) Ataxia
6) Ataxia
7) Shivering
8) Nystagmus
How is Serotonin Syndrome diagnosed?
Clinically
What are the emergency care procedures for Serotonin Syndrome?
1) Discontinue Serotoninergic meds
2) Supportive Care (IV / O2 / MONITOR)
3) MEDEVAC
4) Benzodiazepines for Seizures