Drug poisoning

The harmful effects on the body as a result of an excessive dose of a drug. Accidental poisoning is most common in young children. In adults, it usually occurs in elderly or confused people who are unsure about their treatment and dosage requirements. Accidental poisoning may also occur during drug abuse. Deliberate self-poisoning is usually a cry for help (see suicide; suicide, attempted). The drugs that are most commonly taken in overdose include benzodiazepine drugs and antidepressant drugs. Anyone who has taken a drug overdose and any child who has swallowed tablets that belong to someone else should seek immediate medical advice. It is important to identify the drugs that have been taken. Treatment in hospital may involve washing out the stomach (see lavage, gastric). Charcoal may be given by mouth to reduce the absorption of the drug from the intestine into the bloodstream. To eliminate the drug, urine production may be increased by an intravenous infusion. Antidotes are available only for specific drugs. Such antidotes include naloxone (for morphine) and methionine (for paracetamol). Drug poisoning may cause drowsiness and breathing difficulty, irregular heartbeat, and, rarely, cardiac arrest, fits, and kidney and liver damage. Antiarrhythmic drugs are given to treat heartbeat irregularity. Fits are treated with anticonvulsants. Blood tests to monitor liver function and careful monitoring of urine output are carried out if the drug is known to damage the liver or kidneys.