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Originally Posted by bellerose  Even if the hospital had thorough knowledge on DNP (I'm assuming most doctors haven't had to deal with it), could they have done anything to save her? I know that hypothermia can be induced easily, but wouldn't the fever be too high and out of control? I would think that the difference of temperature in the saline solution (or whatever it is they use to bring someone's body temperature down) needed and the heat being released by her body would be so drastic that it would cause problems in itself.
I have incredibly little medical knowledge, I'm just curious how it works. DNP is very interesting. |
A drug called dantrolene has successfully been used to treat
DNP overdose. It doesn't prevent DNP from producing heat, but it does allow the body to release heat more quickly by causing muscle relaxation. This lowers body temperature and prevents a harmful fever.
In the case where it was used successfull, the subject's temperature went from 108 to 104 after using "cooling blankets, fans, and tepid water soaks". However, after dantrolene administration, it went from 104 to 100.8 within only 20 minutes. They then kept it under 100.4 by admniistering dantrolene for the next 12 hours. The subject subsequently recovered and was released.
So to answer your question, yes, it's very likely the hospital could have done something to save her. That doesn't necessarily mean that everyone who overdoses will recover by taking dantrolene, but that dantrolene appears to be a viable treatment for DNP overdose.
Hope that helps,
Conciliator