Toxicology Emergencies Flashcards
What is addiction?
Compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences
What is tolerance?
Diminished response to drug secondary to repeat use
What is dependence?
Adapted physiologic state d/t recurrent exposure to substance (results in withdrawal if ceased)
What does “sola dosis facit venenum” mean?
The dose makes the poison
-Paracelsus
Adage indicating basic principle of toxicology
Which drugs are opiates?
Heroin, Codeine, Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco), Oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), Fentanyl, Duragesic, Methadone
What is heroin derived from?
Opium poppy
Common street names of heroin?
H, smack, boy, horse, brown, black, tar
Pathophys of heroin?
Introduced to blood stream –> converted to morphine by enzymes –> binds to opiate R’s in reward pathway –> stimulates dopamine release & pain pathway
Onset of heroin?
Seconds to minutes
Duration of heroin?
2-6 hrs
Heroin methods of use?
Injection, smoking, snorting
Effects of heroin?
Acute CNS & respiratory depression, constricted ‘pinpoint’ pupils, nausea
Treatment of heroin overdose?
-Acute OD: Narcan
-Observation to make sure long acting narcotic not involved
-Abscesses may need drainage
-Consider endocarditis
What is naloxone (narcan)?
Competitive opioid antagonist, blocking all opioid receptors
ROA of naloxone?
IV, IM, SC, endotracheal
Usual starting dose of naloxone?
0.4mg
(repeat doses of 0.4 mg/hr may be necessary)
Duration of naloxone?
30-60 min
What may narcan induce?
Vomiting and agitation
What is speedballing?
Simultaneous IV injection of heroin and cocaine
Common prescription opiates of abuse?
Vicodin (Hydrocodone), Percocet (Oxycodone), Fentanyl
Signs someone is abusing prescription meds?
May request pure forms or report allergy to tylenol/NSAIDs
Who may have non-intentional OD’s secondary to uncontrolled pain or poor liver/renal function?
All patients but especially elderly
Prescription opiate OD is ________ in onset and lasts _________
slower in onset and lasts longer
S/Sx of opiate withdrawal?
Mildly increasing temp, yawning, rhinorrhea, lacrimation, midriasis, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, myalgia, arthralgia, irritability