(2) Apomorphine hydrochloride. When administered subcutaneously, this
drug causes a patient to vomit in 5 to 10 minutes. A morphine derivative, apomorphine
hydrochloride is potent and a prompt emetic. If the patient feels depressed after use of
the drug, administer Narcan. Drug dosage for an adult is 5 to 10 milligrams given
once. DO NOT REPEAT THE DOSAGE. Do not use this drug for a patient in shock or
under the influence of central depressants such as barbiturates, opiates, or alcohol.
Such patients may become addicted to the drug. The possibility of addiction is also the
reason the drug is administered only once to a patient suffering from poisoning.
CAUTIONS:
Do NOT induce vomiting in an unconscious or convulsing patient. The
danger is that the vomitus may be breathed into the lungs. Also, if the
medullary center is depressed, agents that produce vomiting are not
effective; the body's vomiting center will simply not work. The vomiting
center will also not work if the central nervous system is depressed.
Do NOT use stomach tubes or emetics in cases of corrosive poisoning.
Tubes or emetics will further irritate already irritated linings of the body's
organs.
NEVER INDUCE VOMITING in these patients:
-- The stuporous or COMATOSE patient.
-- The patient with SEIZURES.
-- The PREGNANT patient.
-- The patient with possible ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION.
-- The patient who has ingested CORROSIVES (strong acids or
alkalis).
-- The patient who has ingested PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
-- The patient who has ingested IODIDES, SILVER NITRATE
(styptic pencil) or STRYCHNINE. (A person who has ingested
strychnine may have convulsions if vomiting is induced.)
b. Poison Removal by Absorption. Activated charcoal can be used to absorb
many poisons. Certain drugs such as morphine or atropine can be absorbed by
activated charcoal. Do not use this substance to absorb cyanide. To use activated
charcoal, mix 10 to 50 grams of activated charcoal in about 400 milliliters of warm
water. Administer this liquid to the patient by gastric tube. The liquid will absorb or
neutralize poisons. While the gastric tube is still inserted in the patient, lavage the
patient. DO NOT lavage if the patient has ingested corrosive poison. Remember,
DO NOT give activated charcoal with or after ipecac; charcoal causes ipecac to be
ineffective.
MD0581
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