06.01 Acute Poisoning

Drugs that can cause poisoning include prescription medicines, OTC (Over-The-Counter) medicines (complementary and alternative medicines), alcohol, herbal remedies, and illegal drugs. The drugs most commonly associated with fatalities are analgesics (paracetamol and aspirin), sedative-hypnotics/antipsychotics, antidepressants, stimulants and street drugs (including opioids and cocaine), and cardiovascular drugs (digoxin and Ca²⁺ entry blockers).

In acute poisoning, the general symptoms are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fitting, drowsiness, confusion, coma, and breathing difficulties. Overdosage is the main reason for poisoning, and this overdosage can be accidental or intentional (drug abuse or self-harm).