Toxicologic emergencies in the intensive care unit: management using reversal agents and antidotes.

Purpose: To review the most common drugs implicated in overdoses admitted to the intensive care unit focusing on antidotes and reversal agents used in their management.

Summary: Poisonings and overdoses due to pharmaceutical agents result in more than 100 000 critical care unit admissions each year. Ingestion of toxic alcohols, calcium channel blockers, beta-adrenergic antagonists, benzodiazepines, opioids, acetaminophen, tricyclic antidepressants, and salicylates are associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality.