Opioids/Benzodiazepines Poisoning Treatment & Management

  • Author: Christopher P Holstege, MD; Chief Editor: Robert G Darling, MD, FACEP   more...
 
Updated: Dec 20, 2010
 

Prehospital Care

Prehospital care providers must place their personal safety before the treatment of patients who may be contaminated with an incapacitating agent. Emergency responders should not enter a contaminated location that has not been secured. Little is known regarding the risk of secondary contamination in health care providers exposed to patients with contamination from opioid or benzodiazepine aerosolized agents.

  • For civilian paramedics, exposed patients must be decontaminated prior to transfer. Absorption and subsequent toxicity is a risk from contact with patients who have been contaminated. Paramedics are at increased risk for toxicity in the closed confines of an ambulance. Caution must be exercised, especially for flight crews, because toxicity of the pilot during flight can lead to impaired judgment and subsequent risk of crashing the aircraft.
  • Initiation of intravenous access and the infusion of intravenous fluids should be considered. Before intubation, naloxone may be administered intravenously to patients with respiratory compromise and suspected opioid. Aggressive airway control must take precedence over pharmacologic reversal because the vast majority of morbidity and mortality results from respiratory depression.
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Emergency Department Care

Once decontamination has occurred, the primary emphasis is simply supportive care of exposed patients. Emergency department staff must be certain that proper decontamination has occurred. Aerosolization of the agents from contaminated patients may occur and can pose a risk to hospital personnel.

  • Airway protection is paramount. In patients who present with coma, aspiration is a risk if adequate airway protection is not achieved. Hypoglycemia should be considered in all patients presenting with altered mental status and glucose administered when necessary. Naloxone may be infused in an attempt to reverse opioid activity (see Medication). Naloxone has an excellent safety record and is standard therapy in many institutions as part of the so-called coma cocktail. Flumazenil may be considered with caution because a number of contraindications exist in its use (see Medication). Thiamine administration should be considered in patients presenting with altered mental status.
  • Intravenous hydration may be necessary; maintain adequate urinary output. Consider placement of a Foley catheter to monitor the patient's urine output.
  • Include continuous cardiac monitoring in patients who are symptomatic.
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Consultations

If an exposure to aerosolized benzodiazepines or opioids occurs, consider a number of consultations.

  • Medical toxicologists: Consider consulting these physicians early to assist in the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of patients with possible exposure to these aerosolized agents.
  • Critical care specialists: For patients requiring intensive care monitoring, consider early consultation with a physician trained in critical care medicine.
  • Law enforcement: If the cause of the exposure is a terrorist act against civilians, immediately contact the local law enforcement agency, health department, and poison control center. Also, contact federal agencies, such as the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Christopher P Holstege, MD  Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Virginia; Director, Division of Medical Toxicology, Center of Clinical Toxicology; Medical Director, Blue Ridge Poison Ctr, Associate Medical Toxicology Fellowship Director, VA Dept of Health

Christopher P Holstege, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists, Medical Society of Virginia, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Society of Toxicology, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Jennifer S Boyle, MD, PharmD  Fellow in Toxicology, University of Virginia Health System

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Suzanne White, MD  Medical Director, Regional Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital, Program Director of Medical Toxicology, Associate Professor, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Suzanne White, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American College of Epidemiology, American College of Medical Toxicology, American Medical Association, and Michigan State Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Rick Kulkarni, MD 

Rick Kulkarni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: WebMD Salary Employment

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

Robert G Darling, MD, FACEP  Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F Edward Hebert School of Medicine; Associate Director, Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine

Robert G Darling, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Telemedicine Association, and Association of Military Surgeons of the US

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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