Emedicine.com?

Question

i looked toxicity, barbiturate on the emedicine .com website and i looked at the cardiovascular manifestations and it listedsometing like this:
Tachycardia
Bradycardia
Hypotension
Diaphoresis
Shock

do you know such toxicity can cause these five changes according to the article at
www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic52.com?
i looked it up just a second ago.
and do you know how often these may occur?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I _LOVE_ emedicine. It's one of my favourite sites!

Yes, barbiturates can cause any of those effects.

Tachycardia and bradycardia are most common.

Hypotension can result from LARGE overdoses - or over administration (iatrogenic). A small degree of hypotension is common.

Diaphoresis is quite uncommon.

Shock is rare ... again, occurring with large overdoses or massive overadministration ... more common if the patient is unwell to begin with. You have an unwell patient that needs Rapid Sequence Induction, for instance, and you give Thiopentone - and you can precipitate hypotension and shock. Quite uncommon.

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most thorough answer.