Toxicology: pearls and pitfalls in the use of antidotes

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1. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2010 Feb;28(1):149-61, ix.

Toxicology: pearls and pitfalls in the use of antidotes.

Smollin CG.

University of California-San Francisco, Department of Emergency Medicine, 505
Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0208, USA.
craig.smollin@emergency.ucsf.edu

Although most poisonings require only supportive care, the emergency physician
must recognize when the use of an antidote is required, and understand the risks 
and benefits of the treatment rendered. Although the more commonly instituted
specific therapy in acute poisoning is the administration of intravenous fluids
followed by the administration of oxygen, in certain circumstances prompt
administration of a specific antidote may be required, and failure to identify
these circumstances may lead to significant morbidity or mortality. This article 
describes select antidotes, and discusses their indications and potential
pitfalls.

PMID: 19945604 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]