Poison Alerts

Does anything surprise us anymore?– Yes, even the over-the-counter antidiarrheal drug, loperamide (Imodium), can be abused.  It is a legal, inexpensive, and accessible alternative for someone with opioid use disorder, or merely curious about the pleasurable effects of opioids.  It…

QUICK FACTS Sodium bicarbonate has been touted as a home-remedy detox to pass a drug test. A quick internet search of “baking soda to pass drug test” yields >1 million search results. Sodium bicarbonate plus gastric acid releases carbon dioxide.…

QUICK FACTS Baclofen reduces muscle tone and spasticity. It has a delayed peak and prolonged half-life in overdose. Deep coma with absent brain stem reflexes may mimic brain death in overdose. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, there is no antidote.…

QUICK FACTS Venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine can cause delayed onset seizures. There is also a risk of serotonin toxicity in overdose. There are active metabolites, so symptoms can be prolonged. Benzodiazepines are the first line treatment to manage seizures.   Venlafaxine…

While not particularly in vogue as abused substances, use of inhalants for euphoriant effects caused several dozen toxic cases in Missouri in the last 2 years, including 2 fatalities.

While not particularly in vogue as abused substances, use of inhalants for euphoriant effects caused several dozen toxic cases in Missouri in the last 2 years, including 2 fatalities.

QUICK FACTS The QT interval predominately represents ventricular repolarization, as well as the much-shorter depolarization (QRS wave.) The primary concern regarding a prolonged QT interval is the potential risk for the rare life-threatening arrhythmia, Torsades de Pointes. The QT nomogram…

Acetaminophen (APAP) is an OTC analgesic/antipyretic found in most medicine cabinets. It is available as a single ingredient or formulated with other OTC or prescription medications. Overdose with APAP is one of the most common poisonings in the US. The FDA-approved 21-hour, three-bag protocol for IV NAC administration is effective; however, there is substantial risk for dosing and administration errors.

It may be surprising, but it’s not a myth – yes, even the over-the-counter antidiarrheal drug, loperamide (Imodium), can be abused. For someone addicted to opioids, it may appear to be a legal, inexpensive, and accessible alternative, but the effects can be dangerous, potentially causing life-threatening arrhythmia.

Diphenhydramine is a ubiquitous OTC medicine found in almost everyone’s medicine cabinet. It is commonly known as Benadryl® or Banophen®. It treats allergies, itching, hives, URI symptoms, motion sickness, and insomnia. The drug comes in capsules, cough and cold preparations,…