Articles related to POISONING/OVERDOSE

The alarming findings on nitazenes’ impact on cardiac arrest rates and naloxone dosage requirements demand your attention; further details could change how we approach opioid overdose treatments.

SIVAD Diagnostic Medical Group’s novel drug testing strips, HarmGuard FX, are making strides in harm reduction, beginning in Delaware. These strips, a part of the wider Harm Stopper Program, signal a potential turning point in the battle against the national opioid crisis.

According to the FDA, more than 101,000 fatal overdoses were reported during the 12-month period that ended in October 2022. Nearly half of fatal overdoses involve bystanders, but naloxone is only used in a small percentage of those situations. According to medical professionals who support the approval, there would be a critical opportunity to close this gap and lower the number of opioid-related deaths if naloxone were available over-the-counter.

There is no readily available test for xylazine and narcotic antagonists are ineffective. Overdosage is characterized by sedation and unresponsiveness. When combined with fentanyl, overdose symptoms can include blue-to-grayish skin, slowed breathing and bradycardia.

A possible carcinogen found in laundry detergent, 1,4-dioxane, has a regulatory limit in New York State. The toxin, which is a byproduct of the chemical processes used to create detergent, can covertly infect goods without the knowledge of consumers. Providers should buy healthy goods and consult with their patients about the household cleaning supplies they use to prevent exposure to 1,4-dioxane and other chemicals found in laundry detergents.

She has been treating her IBS with bismuth subsalicylate. Her symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting. On exam, the patient is confused. Laboratory testing showed primary anion-gap metabolic acidosis, primary respiratory alkalosis, and a salicylate level 25x greater than the normal upper limit.