title: Neurotoxic emergencies.
abstract: Neurotoxic emergencies are depicted by severe disruption of critical central or peripheral nervous system functions caused by xenobiotics with rapid mechanisms of action. This article reviews 4 categories of neurotoxic emergency: drug-induced and toxin-induced seizures, acute depressed mental status, acute excited mental status, and peripheral neurotoxic agents. Selected xenobiotics, representing the frontiers of neurotoxic emergencies, are discussed in detail based on the major neurotransmitters involved.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, USA. James.barry@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: J Dave
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Brandon K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Wills
mesh_terms: D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy