Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Antidotes and decontaminating agents
Antidotes and decontaminating agents
Q.i · Antidotes & Decontamination
Understand the pharmacology of antidotes and decontaminating agents not listed elsewhere.
Written examination
SAQ history
Antidotes
1 exam appearance
Explain the mechanism of action by which the following drugs exert their clinical and pharmacological effect when used to treat drug toxicity or overdose, including the time taken to exert this clinical effect: (a) N-acetylcysteine (25% of marks). (b) Digoxin FAb (25% of marks). (c) Naloxone (25% of marks). (d) Lipid emulsion (i.e. Intralipid) (25% of marks).
65%
Naloxone — Pharmacology
1 exam appearance
Analgesic Pharmacology — Paracetamol Overdose
1 exam appearance
List the functions of the liver (60% marks). Discuss the metabolism of paracetamol in toxicity and the pharmacologic management of this overdose (40% marks).
20%
Neuropharmacology — TCA Overdose
1 exam appearance
Describe the physiological effects and principles of management of a tricyclic antidepressant overdose.
14%
Oral examination
VIVA history
-
2026A · VIVA 6
Relevant examiner prompt
What is the antidote for LAST and how does it work?
-
2011A · VIVA 3
This Viva will explore your knowledge of basic pharmacology and poisoning. Q 1. Describe the factors that affect ORAL drug absorption This viva explored basic pharmacology, dose response curves and poisoning as it related to paracetamol, aspirin and organophosphates. Areas of weakness included the depth of knowledge regarding basic pharmacology as it related to concepts such as clearance and bioavailability and first pass metabolism.
-
2010A · VIVA 4
This station is concerned with the physiology and pharmacology related to the musculoskeletal system Candidates were asked to draw and label a sacromere, outline the physiological events relating to muscle contraction, length – tension relationship, muscle relaxants, malignant hyperthermia and dantrolene
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.