Poisoning and antidotes

Question 1

Define Poisoning.

Answer 1

• The exposure to a drug/chemical/pollutant in enough quantity to producing an adverse effect
• Acute or chronic

Question 2

What are the main types of poisonings?

Answer 2

• Accidental
• Therapeutic error
• Drugs of misuse
• Deliberate

Question 3

What are the 5 ways accidental poisonings can occur?

Answer 3

• Children get a hold of household chemicals or parents medication
• Duplication of therapy
• Confusion over doses
• Prescribing or dispensing errors
• Counterfeit drugs which may contain harmful ingredients or contaminates

Question 4

What are the reasons behind deliberate poisonings?

Answer 4

• To others to cause harm

- Overtaking medicines for benefits such as taking thyroxine for weight loss

Question 5

Describe drug misuse.

Answer 5

Self-administration of a prescribed/over-the-counter medicine or an illicit drug. Patients normally take a mixture of drugs and use alcohol as the most commonly implicated second agent

Question 6

Define and give examples of occupational poisoning.

Answer 6

• Caused by chemicals found in the place of work
  e. g.
• x-rays
• mercury
• asbestos
• pesticides
• noxious fumes
• solvents

Question 7

What causes environmental poisoning

Answer 7

• air, water and soil pollution

Question 8

Describe nicotine poisoning.

Answer 8

Nicotine is highly toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin contact. Vapes come in varying strengths from 6 to 36 mg/ml so small amount can still be life threatening

Question 9

What is the minimal level of nicotine that can be fatal in an adult?

Answer 9

40mg