Toxicity Management: What to Do First When Poisoning Happens
A sudden overdose or chemical exposure can feel chaotic. The best outcomes come from calm, fast actions. This page gives clear steps you can use right away, plus what to expect at the hospital and how to reduce risks afterward.
Immediate steps you can take
Is the person breathing and awake? If not, call emergency services right away. For serious signs — unconsciousness, trouble breathing, chest pain, seizures, severe bleeding — call your local emergency number immediately.
If the person is awake and stable, remove them from the source: move them away from fumes, wipe off skin if they touched a chemical, and take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin or eyes with plain water for at least 10–15 minutes if they were exposed to liquids or sprays.
Call your local poison control center for tailored advice. In the United States the number is 1-800-222-1222. Have the container or pill bottle handy so you can give the exact name, amount, and time of exposure. Don’t guess the dose.
Important: don’t force vomiting or give home remedies unless a poison center or medical provider tells you to. Some substances make things worse if vomited or mixed with certain home treatments.
Clinical care, common antidotes, and follow-up
At the ER, clinicians will stabilize airway, breathing, and circulation, then try to identify the toxin. Tests may include blood work, ECG, and drug screens. Treatments vary: activated charcoal is sometimes used for recent oral overdoses; IV fluids, oxygen, and monitoring are common.
There are specific antidotes for certain poisons — for example, naloxone reverses opioid overdose; N-acetylcysteine treats acetaminophen (paracetamol) toxicity; fomepizole treats methanol or ethylene glycol poisoning; atropine is used for certain pesticide poisonings. These are given by medical teams — don’t try to administer them yourself.
Some drugs cause delayed effects. Tricyclic antidepressants or some heart medicines can show danger hours later, so doctors may admit patients for overnight monitoring and repeated tests even if they initially seem okay.
Aftercare and prevention matter. Dispose of unused medicines safely, keep household cleaners locked or out of reach, and store prescription drugs in original containers. If someone in your home uses medications like benzodiazepines, opioids, or heart medicines, keep a record of doses and emergency contacts visible to caregivers.
Want details on specific drugs? Read our guides on Ativan (lorazepam), amitriptyline, phenazopyridine, and calcium‑channel blockers like felodipine — they explain drug-specific risks and what emergency teams watch for.
Quick recap: check responsiveness, call emergency services for severe signs, contact poison control for guidance, don’t induce vomiting unless told, and get professional care. Fast, correct action can prevent long-term harm.
