Clinical and pharmaceutical aspects in acute poisoning.

Today there are several methods for treating intoxicated patients. If these patients arrive in hospital in time, the diagnosis is correct and appropriate therapy is instituted, nearly all survive without any physical damage. This is best achieved by team-work between the hospital pharmacist and the physician treating the patient. Both should have a sound knowledge of the toxicological properties of drugs and other poisons and the clinical features which they produce. This article emphasizes the need for close co-operation between the pharmacist and the physician and discusses specific therapeutic measures, such as prevention of absorption, acceleration of elimination, symptomatic therapy and administration of antagonists.