Antidotes--inappropriate timely availability.

The aim of this study was to determine the availability of antidotes to poisons in Wales and the South West of England. A stocklist of antidotes that are available to accident and emergency departments was requested and was compared with recommendations from the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). Chief pharmacists were invited to complete a short questionnaire regarding knowledge of existing guidelines. Thirty-four of 43 centres replied (response rate 77%). No department held all 36 antidotes (mean 13, range 7-33). All departments held antidotes that were frequently used. Ninety-one percent of departments held one cyanide antidote. Eighty-eight percent held one heavy metal chelating agent. The remaining antidotes were variably stocked. New agents such as 4-methylpyrazole, hydroxocobalamin and the heavy metal chelating agents DMSA and DMPS were infrequently held. Twenty of 34 chief pharmacists were unfamiliar with existing UK guidelines. A trend exists whereby larger departments stocked more antidotes. Some antidotes to poisons are not available in a timely fashion in Wales and the South West of England. There is a lack of awareness of existing guidelines. New recommendations relevant to clinical need and local practice should ideally be developed.