Toxicology Flashcards
What is psychoactive substance act 2016
Made legal highs Illegal
Types of toxicological emergencies
Intentional = mental health
Accidental = children/ work place
Route of takings drugs
Ingestion
Inhalation
Injection
What is nalaxone for
Opioid overdose
What are the toxidromes
Stimulant Narcotics Sedative hypnotics Cholinergic Anti cholinergic
Cholinergic symptoms
S - salvation L - lacrimation U - urination D - defecation G - gastric E - emesis
B - bronchorrea
B - bronchospasms
B - bradycardia
E.G. insecticide
Anti cholinergic symptoms
Red as a beet -FLUSHED Dry as a bone - ANHYDROSIS hot as a hare - ANYDROTIC HYPOTHERMIA Mad as a hatter - delerium / hallucinating Full as a flask - URINARY RETENTION
TACHYCARDIA
REDUCED BOWEL SOUNDS
E.G antihistamines
Stimulant symptoms
Restlessness Agitation Incessant talking Insomnia Anorexic Dilated pupils Hypertension Paranoia Convulsions
E.G. cocaine
Narcotic symptoms
Constricted pupils Resp distress Drowsiness Needle track marks Stupor Coma
E.g. heroin
Toxicology specific history
What taken When With what How much Vomited Aspirated
Alcohol poisoning
Red flags - Early in the day drinking Hiding drinking Periodic binges Loss of memory/ blackouts Anxiety Cigarette burns Chronic flushed face/palms
Chronic CNS depression = prone to illness
What happens in paracetamol overdose
Less than 24 hours =
Nausea/ vomiting/ loss of appetite
24-72 hours =
Right upper abdo pain
72-96 hours =
Metabolic acidosis, renal failure, reoccurring GI symptoms
4-14 days = recovery begins or liver failure and death
Doses of paracetamol and likely hood of dying
75mg/kg in 24 hours unlikely go kill
4g all at once but no more unlikely to kill
Tricyclic depressanto overdose
Amitryptyline
Sodium channel blocker = arrhythmias, cvs collapse, coma
Can have arrest
What to give for cocaine overdose
Diazepam
