Toxicity, Opioids Workup

  • Author: Everett Stephens, MD; Chief Editor: Asim Tarabar, MD   more...
 
Updated: Nov 19, 2010
 

Laboratory Studies

  • Although widely available, drug screens in uncomplicated overdoses rarely alter clinical management. Drug screens are most sensitive when performed on urine. Positive results are observed up to 36-48 hours postexposure, but wide variations are possible depending upon test sensitivity, dose, route, and the patient's metabolism.
  • In patients with moderate-to-severe toxicity, performing baseline studies, including a CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel, creatine kinase level, and arterial blood gas determinations, is appropriate.
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Imaging Studies

  • Obtain chest radiographs if acute lung injury is suspected. Abdominal films may be helpful when evaluating a suspected body stuffer or body packer. Although the body stuffer (ie, a person who quickly swallows drug packages in an effort to hide evidence from police) is more prone to toxicity from hasty preparation, body packers (ie, individuals who carefully seal large amounts of drugs in packages and then swallow them for transport) have much larger amounts of drug liberated should their packages leak. Films suggestive of ingestion are helpful in making a diagnosis, but films negative for drug packages do not rule out potentially life-threatening ingestions.
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Other Tests

  • An ECG should be obtained on all patients with intentional overdose (possible cardiotoxic co-ingestants) or those with significant toxicity.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Everett Stephens, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Louisville

Everett Stephens, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mark Louden, MD, FACEP  Assistant Medical Director, Emergency Department, Duke Raleigh Hospital

Mark Louden, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD  Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart & St. Joseph's Hospitals

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Burns, MD  Instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard University Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Michael J Burns, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Asim Tarabar, MD  Assistant Professor, Director, Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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