Toxicology Flashcards
Basic Principles of Toxocology
- Keep ingestion on your radar
- Obtain a detailed hx
- Be familiar with common toxidromes
Lab evals
-Glucose
-CBC
-Extended electrolytes
-Lactate
-ABG (carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin)
-Acetaminophen and salicylate levels
-Ethanol
-Urine drug screen
-Pregnancy test
ECG
-Many toxin cause cardiotoxic affects
-QRS widening
-Tall R-waves
-QTc prolongation
Sodium Channel Blockers
-TCAs
-Cocaine
-Benadryl
-Flexeril
-Tegretol
-Propafenone
-Flecainide
-Sodium bicarbonate if QRS <120 msec (50-100 mEq bolus, then infusion 150 mEq/Liter D5W at 150 ml/hour
Serum pH 7.45-7.55;
Check pH and K+ q 2 hours)
Agitation Management
-Benzodiazepines
-Avoid Haldol
b/c
—impairs heat dissipation
—Prolongs QTc
—worsens anticholinergic toxicity
—lower seizure threshold
Classic toxidromes
-Opioids
-Sedatives/Hypnotics
-Sympathomimetic
-Hallucinogenic
-Serotonin
-Anticholinergic/cholinergic
-Acetaminophen
-Salicylates
-BB/Ca Channel blockers
Opioids
-Bind to opioid receptors such as Mu, Kappa, Delta
-Ex: morphine, fentanyl, tramadol, methadone, heroin, meperidine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone
-CNS Depression, hypoventilation, miosis, hotn, rhabdomyolysis if found down, noncardiognic pulmonary edema w/ progression of ARDS
Opioid Tx
-O2, airway support, naloxone
-Nalmefene is similar to narcan but has longer half life at 10 hours. Naloxone is the preferred choice
Naloxone (Narcan)
-Mu receptor antagonist. Pushed opioids out of the receptors and binds them to themselves.
-half life is 1 hours.
-Don’t push all at once, slowly awaken patient
-0.04 to 0.4 mg IV every 2-3 minutes; repeat dose or increase to 2 mg if inadequate
-If no response with 5-10 mg, probably not opioid overdose
-Continuous infusion 0.05 mg/hour
Naloxone (Narcan) Precautions
-May precipitate acute withdrawal symptoms and seizures
-May lead to pulmonary edema
-CNS depression may return after initial improvement due to short half life
Sedatives/Hypnotics
-Benzos, ethanol, barbiturates, zolpidem
-Cause anesthesia with diminished reflex activity and loss of awareness
-CNS depression
-Hyporeflexia
-Depressed respiratory rate with large quantities
-Hypothermia
-Hotn
-mild bradycardia
-Ataxia
-Pupils normal
Sedative & Hypnotics Tx
-Supportive, o2 and airway, ETOH monitoring, benzos: Flumazenil
Flumazenil
-0.2 mg IV, followed by 0.3 mg, 0.5 mg if no effect
-Max 3 mg/hour
-If 5 mg in one hour ineffective, likely to be something other than benzodiazepine
-Half life: 54 minutes
Flumazenil Precautions
-Black box warning: increased risk of seizures, especially in patients w/ concurrent sedative-hypnotic withdrawal
-Re-sedation may occur
-May precipitate benzo withdrawal
Sympathomimetics
-Designer drugs, PCP, ecstasy, cocaine, synthetic cathinone, ephedrine, beta-adrenergic agonists, amphetamines, caffeine
-Increase activity of alpha & beta receptors
-Found in the skin, eyes, heart, GI tract, lungs, exocrine glands
-Cause: tachycardia, htn, tachypnea, agitation (at someone or something)
-Diaphoresis, mydriasis, seizures, arrhythmias
Sympathomimetics Tx
-No antidote
-Keep patient safe
-Tx: Benzodiazepines
0.02 to 0.06 mg/kg IV every 2-6 hours
Patient dependent!
-Sodium bicarbonate infusion for cardiac stabilization
(50-100 mEq bolus, then infusion 150 mEq/Liter D5W at 150 ml/hour)
Serotonergics
-Serotonergics are agents that modify the effect of serotonin in the body
-Psychedelic stimulants, Dextromethorphan, SSRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, Buspirone, lithium, meperidine, linezolid, ecstasy
-Clinical triad: autonomic instability (HR, temp increase), agitated delirium, neuromuscular agitation (hyperreflexia, clonus)
-Akathisia, tremor, diaphoresis, diarrhea, rhabdomyolysis, pupils normal
Serotonergics Tx
-Supportive care, d/c all serotonergic agents (tramadol, fentanyl). IV fluids, avoid restraints, active cooling
-Benzos, propofol +/- paralytics, Cyproheptadine vs Chlorpromazine, Precedex
—-Benzos are the cornerstone of tx