title: A simple, safe, and efficient way to treat severe fluoride poisoning--oral calcium or magnesium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the efficacy and safety of administration of calcium and magnesium orally and intraperitoneally to treat severe sodium fluoride intoxication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were initially gavaged a lethal dose of sodium fluoride (NaF) or water. Then, mice were treated with water or varying concentrations of calcium chloride (CaCl2) or magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) via intraperitoneal (IP) route or via oral route. Mice were monitored for 24 h, and the time of death was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IP injections of large amounts of CaCl2 or MgSO4 were dangerous. All mice gavaged with water and then treated with oral CaCl2 or MgSO4 survived and displayed normal activity during the experiment. The survival rate of mice gavaged with a lethal dose of NaF and then treated with a high dose of oral CaCl2 or MgSO4 was significantly higher than those of using low dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral administration of a high dose of CaCl2 or MgSO4 is a simple, safe, and effective adjunctive method for treating severe oral fluoride poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. wfkao@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: Wei-Fong
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Jou-Fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Shu-Chiung
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Kennon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heard
authors.forename: David H T
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Mei-Chun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Benjamin Ing-Tiau
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Chien-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Tsung-Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chen-Hsen
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005458:Fluoride Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium