Category Archives: Tox / Pharm
Antihistamines
Anticonvulsants
Arsenic
The daily educational pearl – anticholinergic syndrome
Anticholinergic syndrome
It can be causes by a large number of drugs and plants. There is probably a mnemonic for it but I hate mnemonics (and can’t remember them anyway). But as you look at your patient starting from the head, it’s not hard to remember what symptoms you can get with anticholinergic syndrome:
The daily educational pearl – complications of acute pshychostimulant use
Psychostimulants = broad range of substances that include:
The daily educational pearl – hypokalaemic periodic paralysis
Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis
= muscle weakness or paralysis with associated hypokalaemia
The daily educational pearl – sudden sniffing death syndrome
Sudden sniffing death syndrome
– sudden death after sniffing an inhalant, due to cathecolamine surge (patient startled or being caught in the act)
The daily educational pearl – ketamine induced cystitis
Ketamine induced cystitis
= inflammation, fibrosis, decreased compliance of the bladder, papillary necrosis; if extensive scarring occurs, it can cause hydronephrosis and renal failure
The daily educational pearl – Lethargy and Nausea in an Elderly Patient
Your next patient is an 83 yo man who is brought to the emergency department by ambulance complaining of increasing nausea and feeling lethargic. He has a history of AF so you decide to do an ECG.