Part I: Case series: Acute management of prescription and nonprescription drug overdoses

Abstract

Reviewed by Julianne Yeary, Pharm.D., BCCCP; and Monica Owen, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCCP LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Classify prescription drug overdose by patient presentations.2. Evaluate the causative agents of a drug overdose based on history and clinical findings of presentation.3. Develop a treatment paradigm that may be applied in all prescription drug overdoses.4. Assess the relevance of each therapeutic target in drug overdose in a specific drug overdose scenario.5. Devise a plan for treatment of anticholinergic, sodium channel blocker, tricyclic antidepressant, bupropion, digoxin, sulfonylurea, alpha-2 agonist, iron, valproic acid, clonidine, and salicylate overdose.6. Justify the use of specific antidotes in overdose.Target audience for this application-based activity: Pharmacotherapy specialists and advanced level clinical pharmacists whose practice involves the direct care and management of critically ill patients in the ICU and emergency department.