Abstract:

Overdose of pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs or other xenobiotics either by intended or unintended intake is a frequent event in emergency medicine. Increased susceptibility of patients with organ dysfunctions or a relative overdose due to drug-drug interactions, decreased hepatic metabolism (e.g. CYP variants) or hepatic and/or renal failure are situations where the hospital pharmacist can be of crucial importance. The ability to recognize toxicromes (i.e. relating clinical symptoms to substance classes) is a challenge not only to physician-clinical toxicologists but to hospital pharmacists as well. Jointly, they are able to choose the adequate treatment and to avoid unnecessary therapies. Knowing the role of analytical detection in cases of acute poisoning is crucial for the correct and most efficient management of the poisoned patient, particularly when analytical techniques are not available in hospitals. The hospital pharmacist using his knowledge on pharmacological effects is particularly helpful for the interpretation of analytical results in the view of the clincal signs and symptoms. In this field, the hospital pharmacist can be a highly skilled professional partner of the physician in the treatment of intoxications.

Teaching Goals:

The programme is designed to:

• advance hospital pharmacists knowledge and skills concerning overdose of medications
• advance hospital pharmacists knowledge and skills concerning altered pharmacokinetics in cases of overdose of medications (toxicokinetics)
• describe the role and action of the hospital pharmacist in optimising care for overdose patients.
• focus on many aspects of pharmacotherapy related to common overdose situations, particulary the use of antidotes.
• inform the hospital pharmacists about guidelines for intoxications (on an international level)
• increase the awareness of the role of the hospital pharmacist in toxicology

Learning Objectives

After the seminar the participants:

• should be able to recognize situations of overdose
• should be able to recognise their strengths and weaknesses in toxicology
• have got insight in clinical toxicology