This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Substance identification

Authoring team

The substance taken may be elicited by the patient, but this should be corroborated, especially in serious suicidal attempts. Fellow household members, relatives, neighbours, ambulance personnel, and the police may all be useful as sources of third-party evidence.

Where possible, ascertain:

  • time of ingestion
  • associated alcohol consumption
  • past and current medical history
  • symptoms noted since ingestion

Useful clues may be present by examining the:

  • eyes:
    • dilated pupils - tricyclics, cocaine, amphetamine
    • pinpoint pupils - opiates - rapidly reversed by naloxone; organophosphates
    • nystagmus - alcohol, benzodiazepines, phenytoin
  • breath - bitter almond smell of cyanide; alcohol; organic solvents
  • burns around the mouth - corrosive substances such as paraquat, glue sniffers
  • hyperventilation - salicylates
  • needlemarks - 'recreational' drug abuse

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.