Special features

Poisoning — an overview of treatment

By Alison Dines, BSc, MA, John Archer, MBBS, MRCP(UK), Paul Dargan, MBBS FRCPE, Ursula Collignon, BPharm, MRPharmS and Stephen Nash, MB, FFAEM

Poisoning, either accidental or intentional, is a common cause of attendance at accident and emergency departments. This article describes the general management of poisoned patients the role of the pharmacist

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Alison Dines is senior specialist in poisons information, John Archer is registrar in clinical toxicology, Paul Dargan is consultant physician and clinical toxicologist, all at the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Poisons Unit.

Ursula Collignon is senior pharmacist, emergency department, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Stephen Nash is chairman of the clinical effectiveness committee of the British Association of Emergency Medicine.

Poisoning

SUMMARY

Poisoning is a common cause of attendance at accident and emergency departments and resulted in over 100,000 admissions to hospital in England in 2004/05. Over 65 per cent of enquiries to poisons units involve drugs.

The treatment of a poisoned patient will depend on a variety of factors, such as the identity of the poison involved (if this is known) and the timing and extent of its absorption.

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