Drug Safety
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Poisonings are a common problem. In 1995, over 2 million exposures were reported to American poison information centres alone. The majority of poisoning exposures can be treated without major therapeutic intervention. ⋯ Some antidotes, such as digoxin-specific antigen binding fragments (digoxin immune Fab), are very expensive, and both the risk: benefit ratio and the associated cost should be considered before the antidote is administered. The principle aims are to "treat the patient, not the poison' and to do no harm to the patient. Antidotes should be used only when they are indicated and may help a patient.