LINKED ARTICLE This article is commented on by Bateman DN and Dear JW. Should we treat very large paracetamol overdose differently? Br J Clin Pharmacol 2017; 83: 1163-5. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.13279 AIMS: Treatment of paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose with acetylcysteine is standardized, with dose determined only by patient weight. The validity of this approach for massive overdoses has...

Intoxication with gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is associated with coma, seizure, and death; treatment of overdoses is symptomatic. The objectives of this investigation were to characterize the renal clearance and total clearance of GHB in rats and to evaluate potential strategies for increasing the elimination of GHB after drug overdoses. GHB was administered by i.v. infusion at low (108 mg/...

RATIONALE Opioid abuse is increasing, but its impact on critical care resources in the United States is unknown. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that there would be a rising need for critical care among opioid-associated overdoses in the United States. METHODS We analyzed all adult admissions, using a retrospective cohort study from 162 hospitals in 44 states, discharged between January 1, 2009,...

Background: Deaths related to opioid overdoses are increasing in North America, with the emergency department being identified as a potential contributor toward this epidemic. Our goal was determine whether departmental guideline for prescribing of restricted medications resulted reduction opioids prescribed Canadian setting, secondary objective determining impact on local overdose fre...

The general approach and initial management of patients with suspected or confirmed poisoning will be reviewed here. Specific issues relating to the management of common drug overdoses are discussed separately (see appropriate topic reviews). A topic devoted to the management of the critically ill patient with an unknown overdose is found separately. (See "Initial management of the critically i...