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Toxin Induced Vital Sign Changes

Causes: Heart Rate changes
1. See Toxin Induced Bradycardia
2. See Toxin Induced Tachycardia
Causes: Hypothermia (Mnemonic=COOLS)
1. Carbon Monoxide
2. Opiates
3. Oral Hypoglycemics or Insulin
4. Liquor (Alcohol)
5. Sedative Hypnotics
Causes: Hyperthermia (Mnemonic=NASA)
1. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome or nicotine
2. Antihistamines
3. Salicylates or Sympathomimetics
4. Anticholinergics or Antidepressants
Causes: Hypotension (Mnemonic=CRASH)
1. Clonidine or Calcium Channel Blockers
2. Reserpine (Antihypertensive agents)
3. Antidepressants or Aminophylline
4. Sedative Hypnotics
5. Heroin (and Opiates)
Causes: Hypertension (Mnemonic=CTSCAN)
1. Cocaine
2. Thyroid Supplements
3. Sympathomimetics
4. Caffeine
5. Anticholinergics or Amphetamines
6. Nicotine
Causes: Hypoventilation (Mnemonic=SLOW)
1. Sedative hypnotics
2. Liquor (Alcohol)
3. Opiates
4. Weed (Marijuana)
Causes: Hyperventilation (Mnemonic=PANT)
1. Phencyclidine (PCP) or Pneumonitis (Chemical)
2. Aspirin (Salicylates)
3. Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema
4. Toxic Metabolic Acidosis

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 6/1/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.