Stimulants

Stimulants

  • Highly addictive
  • Increase cardiac activity
  • Excite CNS by increasing neurotransmitters
    • Norepinephrine
    • Serotonin
    • Dopamine
  • Toxicity
    • Sympathetic overdrive
      • Can be fatal
      • No antidote
      • Emergency management is based on clinical manifestations
      • Supportive care for agitation and cardiovascular symptoms
  • Withdrawal
    • Not an emergency
    • Supportive care
      • Quiet environment
      • Sleeping and eating at will
      • Suicide precautions if indicated

Assessment findings

Interventions

Cardiovascular

  • Ensure patent airway.
  • Establish IV access and initiate fluid replacement as appropriate.
  • Obtain a 12-lead ECG and initiate ECG monitoring.
  • Treat ventricular dysrhythmias as appropriate with lidocaine, bretylium (Bretylol), or procainamide (Pronestyl).
  • Hypertension and chest pain may require administration of nitroprusside (Nipride) or phentolamine (Regitine).
  • Aspirin may be administered to lower the risk of myocardial infarction.
  • Administer IV diazepam (Valium) or lorazepam (Ativan) for seizures.
  • Administer IV antipsychotic drugs for psychosis and hallucinations.
  • Monitor vital signs and level of consciousness.
  • Initiate cooling measures for hyperthermia.
  • Palpitations
  • Tachycardia
  • Increased BP
  • Dysrhythmias
  • Myocardial ischemia or infarction

Central Nervous System

  • Feeling of impending doom
  • Euphoria
  • Agitation
  • Combativeness
  • Seizures
  • Hallucinations
  • Confusion
  • Paranoia
  • Fever

Share:

More Posts

Preventing Mosquito Bites

For Everyone AUGUST 28, 2024 ESPAÑOL KEY POINTS Take steps to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites that can make you sick. Use

Flu and Older Adults

Español Each year, millions of people suffer from seasonal influenza, which is often called the flu. Flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses that