Poisons are substances that cause harm to organisms through chemical reactions or molecular activity when absorbed in sufficient quantities. The principles for treating poisoning include identifying the poison, preventing further absorption, eliminating the poison from the body, and providing supportive care. Prevention of further absorption can be achieved through induced vomiting, gastric lavage, or activated charcoal. Elimination involves altering urine pH, dialysis, use of cathartics or specific antidotes, and supportive measures focus on ensuring patient wellbeing and fast recovery.

1. Poisons And Principle For Treatment Of
Poisoning
BY MUHAMMAD RAMZAN
6TH SEMESTER PHARM-D
LEADS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

2. What are Poisons?
Poisons are substances that cause disturbances
in organisms, usually by chemical reaction or
other activity on the molecular scale, when an organism
absorbs a sufficient quantity.
For Example
chemicals, drugs etc

3. Poisons
 According to Paracelsus ( father of toxicology);
“Everything is a poison, there is a poison in everything. Only the dose
makes a thing not a poison”.
 Poison term often use for any harmful substances_ particularly for
corrosive substances, carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens and harmful
pollutants.
Some poison which are toxins produced by animals, vegetables and
bacterium such as bacterial proteins that cause tetanus and botulism.

4. What is Poisoning?
 Poisoning is injury or death due to swallowing, inhaling,
touching or injecting various drugs, chemicals, venoms or
gases.
 Many substances — such as drugs and carbon monoxide —
are poisonous only in higher concentrations or dosages. And
others — such as cleaners — are dangerous only if ingested.
 Children are particularly sensitive to even small amounts of
certain drugs and chemicals.

5. Principle for treatment of poisoning
1. Identify the causative agent (poisons)
2. Preventing further absorption of poison
3. Elimination of poison

6. Identification of poisons
 The first step of the treatment is to identify the poisons.
Cause of poison can be known from the relative of the
patient or by the patient himself if he is conscious. This step
helps in deciding the specific treatment to the poisoning.

7. Preventing further absorption of poison
This is an important step in controlling the further spread of the poison in the body. General
rules include-
1. Induction of vomiting- Syrup of Ipecac is the preferred emetic for inducing vomiting. Dose
of Ipecac syrup is 15 ml for children less than 6 months and 30 ml for adults.
Emesis is contraindicated in the following cases-
•Vomiting should not be induced in comatose patients.
•Emesis is contraindicated in caustic poisoning and in Petroleum distillates poisoning.
•Emetics should also be not given to those where is a risk of convulsions in the patient.

8. Preventing further absorption of poison
 2. Gastric lavage- Gastric lavage is an important measure to control poisoning
when it occurs due to some aromatic substances such as perfumes. It is also
helpful when emesis is contraindicated.
3. Use of activated charcoal- Activated charcoal adsorbs the poisons and delays
the gastrointestinal absorption of the poison. It is helpful in the treatment of
poisoning from aromatic and alkaloid compounds.

9. Elimination of poisons
 1. Altering the pH of urine- In poisoning from basic substances such as
amphetamine or quinine urine of the patient should be made acidic to
hasten the elimination of these substances. In case of acidic substances
poisoning such as salicylates or phenobarbitone, urine should be made
alkaline to speed the elimination of the poison.
2. Dialysis- Peritoneal dialysis is very popular nowadays and used in the
treatment of methanol poisoning and in Snake bite. Haemodialysis is
more superior technique but requires highly sophisticated unit for care.
Peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis have limited use in the treatment
intoxication with chemicals.

10. Elimination of poisons
3. Cathartics- Cathartics are used to hasten the removal of a toxic substance and are
useful in ingestion of hydrocarbons and enteric coated tablets. Sodium Sulphate is a
frequently used cathartic.
4. Uses of Antidotes- There are certain specific antidotes for treating the specific cases of
poisoning. Here is the list of some commonly employed antidote for the treatment of certain
poisoning.
•Atropine- It is used in the treatment of organophosporous poisoning.Suicidal attempts in
India due to these substances is highest in India.
•Calcium edetate- It is used in the lead poisoning.

11. Elimination of poisons
•Ethyl alcohol- Ethyl alcohol is the antidote used methanol poisoning.
•Dimercapol- Dimercapol is used in heavy metal poisoning such as Arsenic, Copper, Lead, gold
and Mercury.
•Oxygen gas- Oxygen gas is used to treat in carbon Monoxide poisoning.
•Pencillamine- Pencillamine is an antidote for heavy metals like copper, Lead, Mercury and Zinc.
•Pralidoxime- It is used in organophosphorous poisoning.
•Milk- Milk is a universal antidote. Its antidote property is attributed to Calcium and magnesium
present in it which act as chelating agents.

12. Supportive measure for improving
Condition
General supportive measures are meant to ensure the wellbeing of the patient and for
the fast recovery from the poisoning. General measures includes following steps-
•Use of Oxygen therapy when there is hypoxia or probability of the same in the patient.
•Correction of the Blood Pressure of the patient by fluid therapy; Dopamine may be
required for correcting the BP.
•If there is cardiac arrhythmia in the patient then safety measures should be taken
under the supervision of the expert.
•Correction of plasma biochemistry like, acidosis or alkalosis in the blood.
•Airways should be cleared with the help of suction apparatus.

13. Any question?
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