Intubation to Achieve Control of the pH

There are a small number of drugs for which the likelihood of serious complications, namely seizures and arrhythmias, is substantially increased by any degree of acidosis.

• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Antiarrhythmic drugs
• Quinidine

In most cases, these poisonings also warrant GI decontamination. Thus, if patients are not alert enough to cooperate fully with decontamination, elective intubation is often preferable.

See TCA poisoning management.