Management overview for stimulant drug poisoning
Many different drugs are central nervous system (CNS) stimulants—see Causes of stimulant drug poisoning. The spectrum and severity of effects vary with each drug, depending on whether the effects are predominantly due to stimulation of dopaminergic, adrenergic or serotonergic neuroreceptors.
Specific management advice is given for poisonings due to the following stimulant drugs:
- cocaine
- theophylline and caffeine
- novel stimulant drugs
- novel hallucinogenic drugs
- synthetic cannabinoid-receptor agonists.
For all other stimulant drug poisonings, follow the advice in this monograph.
The treatment of stimulant poisoning aims to gain control of agitation or delirium, and identify and urgently treat severe hyperthermia.