Some people who have swallowed a poisonous substance or overdosed on medication will be admitted to hospital for examination and treatment.
Possible treatments that can be used to treat poisoning include:
- activated charcoal – sometimes used to treat someone who’s been poisoned; the charcoal binds to the poison and stops it being further absorbed into the blood
- antidotes – these are substances that either prevent the poison from working or reverse its effects
- sedatives – may be given if the person is agitated
- a ventilator (breathing machine) – may be used if the person stops breathing
- anti-epileptic medicine – may be used if the person has seizures (fits)
