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# For Poisoning
# Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is a powder used to treat some poisonings such as
certain pesticides and herbicides that have been swallowed.
Activated charcoal prevents the poison from being absorbed by the
body, so give it as soon as possible after being poisoned. Activated
charcoal will not harm, so give it if you think the person may have
been poisoned, even if you are not sure.
If you do not have activated charcoal, you can use powdered charcoal
from burnt wood or even burnt bread or tortilla. Mix 1 tablespoon of
powdered charcoal with warm water in a large glass. This is not as
good as activated charcoal, but it still works.
*Never use charcoal briquettes--they are poison!*
Activated charcoal is *not* helpful for poisoning from:
* corrosives (such as ammonia, batteries, acids, drain cleaner,
caustic soda, lye)
* hydrocarbons (such as gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, paint
thinner, phenol, carbolic acid, camphor, pine oil)
* cyanide (used in mining work, factory work, animal hide hair
removal, rat poison)
* ethanol
* iron (iron tablets, multivitamins or prenatal vitamins)
* lithium (found in medication to treat bipolar mental illness)
* methanol (found in varnish, paint thinner, fuel additives for
cars)
* mineral acids
* organic solvents (found in paint thinner, glue solvents, nail
polish remover, spot removers)
## Side effects
Can cause black stools, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea.
## How to use
Give as soon as possible after poisoning (or possible poisoning) with
a full glass of water. The dose can be given again in 4 hours.
* Under 1 year: give 10 to 25 g.
* 1 year to 12 years: give 25 to 50 g.
* Over 12 years: give 50 g.
# Atropine
Atropine is used to treat poisoning from certain pesticides,
insecticides, or nerve gases. Only use atropine if the label on the
pesticide container says to use atropine, or if it says the pesticide
is a "cholinesterase inhibitor." The amount of atropine needed
depends on how severe the poisoning is. Usually, a poisoning from a
carbamate requires less medicine than if the poisoning is from an
organophosphate.
## Side effects
Sleepiness, feeling lightheaded, headaches, changes in thinking, and
hard stools.
## Important!
Keep the person cool after giving atropine.
## How to use
Injection
Inject into the muscle.
* Under 2 years: inject 0.05 mg per kg, every 5 to 10 minutes.
* 2 to 10 years: inject 1 mg, every 5 to 10 minutes.
* Over 10 years: inject 2 mg, every 5 to 10 minutes.
Stop giving injections when the skin becomes flushed and dry, and the
pupils get bigger. If the poisoning is severe, double the amounts of
atropine listed above.
# Deferoxamine
Deferoxamine helps treat iron poisoning by removing iron from the
blood.
## Side effects
Blurred vision and changes in thinking.
## Important!
Do not give to someone with kidney disease or if the person cannot
urinate. Do not give to children under 3 years old.
## How to use
Injection
Inject slowly into the muscle. Inject 50 mg per kg every 6 hours.
Do not give more than 6 g in a day. If you cannot weigh the person,
dose by age:
* 3 to 5 years: slowly inject 500 mg, every 6 hours, for 1 day (4
times).
* 5 to 12 years: slowly inject 1000 mg, every 6 hours, for 1 day (4
times).
* Over 12 years: slowly inject every 6 hours for 1 day (4 times) as
follows: The first 2 times give 2000 mg, then use half the dose,
1000 mg, for the next 2 times.
# Acetylcysteine
Give acetylcysteine as soon as possible after taking too much
paracetamol or acetaminophen. Too much paracetamol or acetaminophen
is over 7,000 mg for an adult, and over 140mg per kg for a child.
Acetylcysteine has a strong smell. Mixing it with juice helps the
person tolerate it.
## How to use
Pill, Spoon
For paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose
Give the first dose of acetylcysteine at 140 mg per kg by mouth.
Wait 4 hours then give half this amount for the second dose (70 mg
per kg by mouth). Continue giving the amount of 70 mg per kg every 4
hours, for 16 more times. This makes a total of 18 doses during a
3-day period (72 hours). If the person vomits within 1 hour of
taking the medicine, give the dose again.
# Naloxone
Naloxone is used to treat an overdose from opioids such as morphine,
heroin, fentanyl, methadone, opium, oxycodone, codeine, and other
strong pain medicines. Give naloxone until the person is breathing
well on their own. The treatment can wear off, so you may need to
give another dose in 20 minutes if the person starts to have
difficulty breathing again.
## Side effects
Nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Extreme discomfort.
## How to use
Injection
* Under 5 years or child weighs less than 20 kg: inject 0.1 mg per
kg into the muscle every 2 to 3 minutes as needed, but do not give
more than 2 mg in total.
* Over 5 years or weighs more than 20 kg: inject ½ to 2 mg in the
muscle. If needed, repeat the dose every 2 to 3 minutes, but do not
give more than 10 mg in total.
# Sodium nitrite
Sodium nitrite is used to treat cyanide poisoning together with
sodium thiosulfate. It must be injected into the vein. Only do this
if you know how.
# How to use
Injection
Slowly inject sodium nitrite into the vein over 5 to 20 minutes.
* Under 12 years: inject 4 to 10 mg per kg into the vein. Do not
give more than 300 mg.
* Over 12 years: inject 300 mg into the vein.
Follow with an injection of sodium thiosulfate. See below for doses.
# Sodium thiosulfate
Sodium thiosulfate is used to treat cyanide poisoning along with an
injection of sodium nitrite. It must be injected into the vein.
Only do this if you know how.
## How to use
Slowly inject sodium thiosulfate into the vein over 10 minutes.
* Under 12 years: inject 400 mg per kg into the vein.
* Over 12 years: inject 12.5 g into the vein.
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