Latest news with #KristieEdelen
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Snake season: What to do if a venomous snake bites you?
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — As the temperatures climb and many head outdoors to enjoy the sunshine, it's also waking up some slithery visitors. The Oklahoma Poison Center is already starting to see an uptick in calls. In 2024 alone, The Oklahoma Poison Center helped manage 363 snake bites across the state. 160 copperhead bites 38 rattlesnake bites 12 cottonmouth bites 102 bites from unidentified venomous snakes 34 unknown snake bites (venom status undetermined) 15 non-venomous snake bites 2 bites from exotic snakes LOCAL NEWS: OSU researching Asian Longhorned Tick that can be deadly for cattle The Oklahoma Poison Center says they do not need to know what type of snake bit you. 'Just leave it alone, get out of the area and our anti venom that we have here in Oklahoma will actually cover all venomous snakes,' said Kristie Edelen, managing director, The Oklahoma Poison Center. Edelen says to never use tourniquets, ice or extraction tools. Just head straight to the emergency room. You should also remove any jewelry or tight clothing. 'When it comes to snake bites, we have a saying that time is tissue,' said Edelen. She says that waiting too long can lead to permanent damage. The Oklahoma Poison Center says it's not just snakes you have to look out for this time of year, but also spiders. 'Probably the biggest thing that we're seeing here in Oklahoma right now is our brown recluse bites, just people specifically having things like rashes and muscle pains,' said Edelen. Scorpion stings can also happen with the warmer weather, but they're rarely dangerous. When in doubt about a bite, Edelen says the best thing you can do is call The Oklahoma Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Okla. Poison Ctr. highlights Vitamin A use during Measles outbreak
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma Poison Center on Wednesday, released a statement regarding measles outbreaks and Vitamin A toxicity asking Oklahomans to be mindful to use vitamin supplements only as recommended by health care professionals. 'If you're concerned about measles, the best thing you can do is get vaccinated and talk to your physician. Vitamin A is not the answer,' said Dr. Claire Epperson, associate medical director for the Oklahoma Poison Center. The Oklahoma Poison Center strongly warns against self-medicating with vitamin A. It does not prevent measles. It does not cure measles. 'A lot of mad people right now': Guthrie food trucks get the boot from popular spot Oklahoma Poison Center officials say, Vitamin A is not a substitute for vaccination noting taking a extra amount of any vitamin can cause serious harm additionally stating there has not been an increase in vitamin A-related calls and received one call this year related to an unintentional therapeutic error. 'We want to reassure the public that we are not currently experiencing a trend, but we feel it is important to provide clear, evidence-based guidance,' said Kristie Edelen, managing director of the Oklahoma Poison Center. 'Overdosing on vitamins, even with good intentions, can lead to serious health effects –particularly in children,' Edelen said. 'The Oklahoma Poison Center urges parents and caregivers not to attempt to treat or prevent illnesses like measles with high-dose vitamins without consulting a medical professional. The most effective way to protect against measles remains vaccination, as recommended by health care providers and public health authorities.' If you or someone you know has questions about vitamin A, medications, or supplement use, contact the Oklahoma Poison Center are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-222-1222. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Injectable weight-loss drugs increasing calls to state poison center
The Oklahoma Poison Center is reporting a 'surge' of incoming calls about accidental overdosing of popular injectable drugs used for weight loss and diabetes management. Called GLP-1 agonists and used in such drugs as Ozempic, the products are used to help lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. They are used once a week and are administered by injecting into fatty tissue. According to the Poison Center, the organization has received 241 calls related to GLP-1 agonists, with 189 (78%) of these being due to 'unintentional therapeutic errors.' The center said that users often 'realize too late that they've injected the wrong amount.' 'These are very safe drugs, so we're not talking about death or really severe symptoms, but to patient sometimes it can seem severe,' said Kristie Edelen, managing director at the Oklahoma Poison Center. 'They can have pretty significant stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. These are only dosed once weekly, so they have a really really long half-life. It may be day two, three or four that the patient is calling us and they want to know 'When are these symptoms going to stop?' Really it does take about a week, sometimes up to two weeks for those symptoms to stop.' While those symptoms aren't life-threatening by themselves, a week-long bout of them can lead to dehydration, and require rehydrating with intravenous fluids in serious cases, Edelen said. Edelen said the calls to the center started going up when a shortage occurred and the Food and Drug Administration allowed compounding pharmacies to mix up their own versions and provide them to patients in vials, to be injected with a syringe. The manufactured versions are provided with pens that have preset doses, so overdosing is less likely. 'The public really needs to recognize that we as healthcare providers, pharmacists, medical providers and physicians, should be educating patients if we are either prescribing or making and dispensing these medications, and making sure that patients know how they are properly administered,' Edelen said. One problem is the type of syringe being used can cause a patient to misunderstand the dose they are administering to themselves. 'Insulin syringes are dosed in units, whereas other syringes are dosed typically in milliliters, and they are not one in the same,' Edelen said. Edelen said the following guidelines can help prevent an accidental overdose: Know Your Dose: Always confirm your prescribed dose with your provider or pharmacy. Compounded versions may differ from FDA-approved formulations. Understand Your Syringe: An insulin syringe, measured in units, is different from a standard syringe, measured in milliliter. Using the wrong syringe can lead to serious overdoses or underdoses. Be Shown How to Measure Your Dose: If you're unsure, ask a healthcare provider or pharmacist to demonstrate. GLP-1 pens may be dosed differently than syringes. Double Check Before Injecting: If the amount looks different than expected, stop and ask before proceeding. If you are in doubt, don't inject—call for help. Those with questions can call The Oklahoma Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 to get answers about GLP-1 agonists and any other medication concerns.
