After giving an antidote to a patient who took a poison, should we give glucose !
Question:
After giving an antidote to a patient who took a poison, should we give glucose or not??
Answers:
It depends on what poisen was taken and what antidote was given. One of the usual antidotes is activated charcoal, given to absorb the poison in the GI tract. Often, we will give dextrose soon after that so that the charcoal does not set up in the gut and cause an ileus (a stopped up bowel). If they are diabetic, they may need some extra sugar depending upon what they took (say OD'd on diabetic meds?). It is really up to the doctor--or if you have been with poisen control, ask them specifically about this.