Poisoning Prevention

Poisoning Prevention
Poisoning is the overdose of drugs and medicaments, as well as, exposure to chemicals and biological substances. It can either be unintentional or intentional. Accidental poisoning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury for elderly individuals with ages 65 years old.

The elderly individuals are at risk to either accidental poisoning because of:
• physiological changes associated with maturity such as liver and kidney abnormalities, poor eye sight and hearing
• altered responses to drugs
• multiple medical conditions
• polypharmacy that can cause adverse drug-drug interactions
• cognitive deficits such as difficulty in understanding and remembering instructions
• behavioral factors such as: non-compliance to medications, idea that aging phenomenon is a disease, thus needs to be treated, consumer hoax

Suspect poisoning if there is:
• Appearance of abnormal or unexpected responses to a medication. For instance, a patient develops vomiting after intake of paracetamol or iron supplement.
• Sudden appearance of signs and symptoms in a previously normal individual such as loss of consciousness, seizure, cardiac abnormalities
• Disappearance of medicines at home
• Presence of empty chemical containers in the vicinity of patient

Accidental poisoning in the elderly can be prevented by the following interventions:
• Supervise administration of medicines.
• Store pills in their original containers to avoid mixing of pills.
• Use pill boxes to hold medication for the week.
• Keep chemicals at home in their original container with proper labels and stored in appropriate cabinets
• Avoid self-medication nor buy medications marketed as wonder or miracle pills with cure indications.
• Keep a list of medications currently taken. Discard drugs that are no longer needed.
• Request for a written treatment plan from the doctor. This includes the name(s) of the drug(s), dosage, indication and instructions on manner of administration. Ask for adverse effects that need to be monitored.
• Consult the doctor for development of new signs and symptoms and when planning to take even an over-the-counter drug.
• Do not change your medications without consulting your doctor.
• Avoid polypharmacy.

How can The Medical City help you?
In the event of poisoning, the patient should be immediately brought to the Emergency Room, ESPECIALLY if with any of the following:
• Loss of consciousness
• Difficulty of breathing
• Poor circulation manifested by bluish discoloration of the lips, skin, nailbeds, cold hands and feet, thready pulses
• Convulsions
• Excessive vomiting and diarrhea

A toxicologist is always available at The Medical City (on-call basis) to provide the appropriate intervention in the event of poisoning.

Pharmacology
Basic Principles in Therapeutics. Carruthers SG, et al. (eds). (4th edition), McGraw-Hill Medical
Publishing Division, 2000
-Annual Poisoning Statistics. 2007. National Poison Management & Control Center, UP-PGH.
-Cortes-Maramba NP, Panganiban LR. Algorithms of Common Poisonings:Part 1 (2nd edition). 1998
Source:
- Vestal RE and Gurwitz JH. Geriatric Pharmacology. In Melmon and Morelli's Clinical

Note: This information is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advise, diagnosis or treatment. If you or someone you know have any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to seek professional help.
For information, you may contact:

Emergency Department
Tel No. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 Ext. 6175
Center for Healthy Aging
Tel No. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 Ext. 6582
Center for Patient Partnership
Tel. No. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 Ext. 6444