Chapter 38: Poisoning by Therapeutic Substances

Paracetamol

Paracetamol

It acts by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.

Paracetamol

It can produce severe liver damage due to the accumulation of a highly toxic intermediate metabolite: nacetylepbenzoquinone (NAPQ) in overdosage.

Insulin

This therapeutic substance is one of the few that has been used repeatedly for homicide and is not infrequently used for suicide, usually amongst nurses and doctors who have access to large doses.

Insulin

It is a potent hypoglycaemic agent and if the severe lowering of blood sugar persists for many hours, then brain damage and death will occur.Cp

Aspirin

Common symptoms are flushed face, edema of the face, skin rash, tinnitus, deafness, hyperpnoea, nausea, vomiting, haematemesis, melaena, hypoprothrombinaemia, acute renal failure, pulmonary edema, respiratory arrest.

Paracetamol

It acts by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)

The specific antidote of choice for Paracetamol poisoning.