Poisons Flashcards
Name 6 methods of poisoning decontamination
- Forced emesis, 2. Gastric lavage, 3. Adsorption (charcoal), 4. Whole bowel irrigation, 5. Catharsis (shortening gut transit time using sorbitol & charcoal). 6. ENHANCED ELIMINATION
Complications of forced emesis
Aspiration and further damage eg from corrosives
Complications of gastric lavage
Risk of flushing into bowel & incr absorption. Perforation.
Most effective time from ingestion for activated charcoal
1 hr
Why does activated charcoal not work with metals (lithium, iron etc.)?
They do not bind to it.
Why does activated charcoal not work with hydrocarbons, (ethanol, methanol etc.)?
They are absorbed too rapidly .
Contraindications for charcoal
Caustic substances - danger of charcoal induced vomiting.
Methionine is strongly or weakly adsorbed by charcoal?
Strongly adsorbed
What are 3 methods of enhanced elimination?
- Urine alkalinisation, 2. Forced diuresis, 3. Heamodialysis / haemoperfusion
Briefly outline Urine alkalinisation
Keeping urine at ph7-8. Prevents weak acids e.g. aspirin becoming lipid soluble so they flush out in urine not into cells.
Briefly outline Forced diuresis
Giving diuretic eg furosemide (often in combin with urine alkalinisation)
Briefly outline heamoperfusion
Passing blood through charcoal - but oral charcoal simpler and can be as effective
What 6 effects common to these drugs in overdose:
TCAs, Antihisthamines, Orphenadrine (Parkinson’s med.), Thioridazine (antpsychotic)
Coma, hypertonia, extensor plantar reflexes, myoclonus (twitching), mydriasis (dilated pupils), sinus tachycardia (prol. QT - TCAs and antipsych.))
What might cause: coma, miosis (constrict. pupils) and red. resp rate?
Opiates
Antidote for opiates?
Naloxone