REVIEW TOPIC - POISONING - CHEMICAL, DRUGS & BITES Interventions for the Treatment of Organophosphorus Pesticide Poisoning
Self-poisoning withOrgano- and later due to peripheral respira- would have required several hours
aspiration and long term ventilation. RESUSCITATION
for a significant number of patients. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ATROPINE OXYGEN AND IV FLUIDS
respiratory function - to 'atropinise'
('ageing') in patients taking dimethyl
PRALIDOXIME
the pralidoxime has just reactivated. OTHER DRUGS FUTURE TREATMENTS DECONTAMINATION Down To Earth
1 South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration, Centre for Tropical Medicine,
References for this information can be found
Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, England
online at http://ccforum.com/content/8/6/
2 Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
3 Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Canberra Clinical School, ACT,Australia. Michael Eddleston,1,2 Nick A
4 Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Buckley, 3 and Andrew Dawson.4,5
5 Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Mater Hospital, Newcastle, Australia. Correspondence: M Eddleston, Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, PO Box 271, 25
Kynsey Road, Colombo-08, Sri Lanka. eddlestonm@eureka.lk
Drug Poisoning INTRODUCTION MANAGEMENT OF THE POISONED Initial Management
follow later but as soon as possible. HOW DOES A POISONED PATIENT
prevent Wernickes' encephalopathy. naloxone, an opioid antagonist, can
The Central Nervous System:
sion due to all varieties of opioids.Cellular Hypoxia: Drugs that Toxicological Diagnosis Other Organ System Damage may
in an overdose of narcotics, barbitu-rates, alcohol and other sedative-
examples are that of paraquat affect-
antipsychotic, anti depressants, diphen-
necrosis due to poisoning by para-hydramine, theophylline; isoniazid etc. cetamol, which may result in hepatic
Certain Behavioural Effects of Drugs may be a cause of death in an
indirect manner. For example, alcoholor sedative-hypnotic drugs can cause
The Cardiovascular System: Over-
like phencyclidine or LSD may die in
tricyclic antidepressants, digitalis andphenytoin, carbamazepine, alcohol andhistory, should be substantiated other sedative intoxication. Twitching
anticholinergics), by the formation of
other sympathomimetic agents. Mus-
tablet bezoars (e.g. salicylates),
order to quantify the drug ingestion. Clinical Examination haloperidol and other anti psychotics.
preparations (e.g. theophylline).
Certain clues from the physical Laboratory Tests Specific Antidotes examination of the patient can help
Selective antidotes are available only for a
Antidote
1) Vital signs:
a) Blood pressure - Hypertension Drugs that may induce an elevated anion gap acidosis are: Type of elevation Agents of the Anion gap
with calcium channel blockers, ß -METHODS OF ENHANCING ELIMINATION OF DRUGS
cardia is common with tricyclic anti-
1) Dialysis procedures:
b) Respiration - Rapid respiration
is typical of salicylates, carbon monox-Drugs that cause alteration in serum ide and others producing metabolic
potassium levels are:
c) Temperature - Hyperthermia
is associated with sympathomimetics,anticholinergics, salicylates and drugs
2) Eyes: Miosis - constriction of
pupils, is typical of opioids, clonidine,phenothiazines, cholinesterase inhibitorssalicylate, phenytoin, phenobarbital,Mydriasis- dilatation of pupils is
2) Forced Diuresis and urinary pH atropine and other anticholinergic agents.manipulation:
a) Alkalinisation of urine - (pH >7.5)
teristic of intoxication with alcohol,sedatives. Presence of both vertical
Decontamination
tive of poisoning with phencyclidine.
3) Skin: It may appear flushed, hot References:
and dry in poisoning with atropine
with Ipecac syrup or gastric lavage
1) Kent R Olson: Basic and Clinical Pharma-
and other antimuscarinics. Excessive
with normal saline is generally used if
cology, 9th ed. the McGraw-Hill companies
mimetics, nicotine and anti cholineste-
hour of ingestion of the drug. Acti-
2) Curtis D. Klaasen: Goodman & Gilman's:The Pharmacological Basis of therapeutics,
rase agents. Cyanosis may be due to
vated charcoal is useful in binding Dr Atiya R Faruqui and Dr Sujith J. Chandy
4) Nervous system: Nystagmus, Dept. of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, CMC Vellore DOG BITES AND RABIES SNAKE BITES
into the glutal region. (b) ActiveImmunisation: Currently the follow-
Treatment: Once symptoms of rabies
Post exposure prophylaxis: Post expo-
Pre-exposure prophylaxis: Individuals
INSECT BITES AND STINGS Hospital Management: Vital signs of
SCORPION STINGS Post-exposure vaccination:(a) PassiveImmunisation: In severe (high risk)
simple analgesics and antihistamines. Dr S Banerjee, Clinician
dose, or if it is not available, Equinine
in a charitable clinic, Delhi REGULATORY MATTERS
'I just saw the July - September 2004
Banned Drug
The Central Government of India has notified on December 13, 2004 the
ban on Rofecoxib formulations for human use. It is in the context of
certain risk to human beings. It prohibits manufacture, sale and distribu-
tion Rofecoxib with immediate effect. The notification implies immediate
withdrawal of the stock that is still in the retail outlets and supply chain. Dr Krisantha Weerasuriya
This follows the recommendation of the National Pharmacovigilance
Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy
Advisory Committee meeting held on October 11, 2004 for banning the
(EDM), WHO South-East Asia Regional
drug, in the context of Merck withdrawing the drug in September 2004. Kerala Drugs Controller has banned the follow- ing batches of drugs for substandard quality
Sample tests conducted during the month of November 2004 at the Thiruvananthapuram
drug control laboratory revealed a few batches of drugs, marketed by about a dozencompanies in Kerala, were of substandard quality. They are:
welcome readers tocontribute for 'Readers
Medicine Batch Number
Modern Pharmaceuticals, Kandli MT 053, MT 054 and
A Health Education Publication from the Policy Advocacy & Research Group of CMAI. Christian Association of Editorial Advisory Group
Aluminium Hydroxide tablets IP Bharath Parentarals Ltd.,
The concerned manufacturers have been asked to withdraw the substandard batches from
the market by the drug control department. Compiled from Chronicle Pharmabiz Cox2 Inhibitors Design & Production Susamma Mathew
The National Pharmacovigilance Advisory Committee (NPAC) has asked
Published by
drug companies which licensed to manufacture and sell generics of Cox-2
inhibitor category drugs to submit additional data on the product safety
with immediate effect. The move is a fall out of the reported ADRs and the
subsequent withdrawal of rofecoxib, a cox-2 inhibitor drug, from the
international markets including India.
Plot No 2, A-3 Local Shopping CentreJanakpuri, New Delhi 110 058
The manufacturers of COX-2 drugs like, celecoxib, valdecoxib parecoxib
generics are expected to initiate additional studies such as safety profile
during use for more than 18 months, potential reactions of the drug in
various dosage forms and designs etc. immediately and submit the data to
Printed at: Creative Lab
A N A L Y S I S C O M M E N T A R Y Legal Fallacies of Antipsychotic Drugs Steven K. Erickson, JD, LLM, PhD, J. Richard Ciccone, MD,Steven B. Schwarzkopf, MD, J. Steven Lamberti, MD, and Michael J. Vitacco, PhDAdvances in the biological sciences have dramatically improved the understanding of schizophrenia and relatedpsychotic illnesses. One of the most compelling findings is the substan
Essential oils – a role in the fight against MRSA? Aromatherapy – the therapeutic use of essential oils (highly concentrated natural plant products) – has been used traditionally to help combat many disorders, ranging from mild skin complaints (e.g. insect bites, mild burns) to more complex conditions such hypertension as stress. Evidence for the efficacy of essential oils in these c