Toxicology and Overdose

Long acting benzodiazepine plus thiamine, with seizure and delirium risk

A memory aid for treating alcohol withdrawal.

Each major poison has a specific antidote acting by a defined mechanism

A memory aid for the specific antidotes and their poisons.

Resuscitate, identify, decontaminate, give an antidote, enhance elimination

A memory aid for the general management of poisoning.

Carbon monoxide blocks oxygen carriage; cyanide blocks its use

A memory aid for the two classic poisonings of fire and smoke.

It binds haemoglobin 240 times more avidly than oxygen and shifts the curve left

A memory aid for why carbon monoxide is so dangerous.

A pulse oximeter reads two wavelengths and can be badly misled

A memory aid for carboxyhaemoglobin, methaemoglobin and the pulse oximeter's blind spots.

MUDPILES or GOLDMARK for the unmeasured anions

A mnemonic for the causes of a raised anion gap metabolic acidosis.

A narrow therapeutic index drug requiring regular level, renal and thyroid monitoring

A memory aid for the safe use of lithium.

The triad of reduced consciousness, respiratory depression and pinpoint pupils

A memory aid for recognising and treating opioid toxicity.

Measured minus calculated osmolality, raised by unmeasured osmoles

A memory aid for using the osmolar gap in poisoning.

NAPQI depletes glutathione, causing centrilobular necrosis

A memory aid for the mechanism and monitoring of paracetamol toxicity.

Muscle injury from any cause, with rhabdomyolysis at the extreme

A memory aid for the causes of a raised creatine kinase.

A mixed respiratory alkalosis and metabolic acidosis, with tinnitus

A memory aid for the features and treatment of aspirin poisoning.

Anticholinergic, cholinergic, sympathomimetic, opioid and sedative patterns

A memory aid for the classic poisoning syndromes.

Anticholinergic, cardiac and neurological toxicity together

A memory aid for the features and treatment of tricyclic overdose.