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See also [[3.1.1 Hypotension|Hypotension]]
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=INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS=

Those patients with significant toxicity or who receive decontamination require intravenous fluids for a number of reasons.

* It is useful to have intravenous access if significant clinical complications develop.
* These patients often have relative volume depletion, either due to the co-ingestion of alcohol or due to vasodilatation induced by ingested drugs.
* Patients who have received [[3.2.2.2.3 Activated charcoal|activated charcoal]] containing sorbitol will generally lose fluid into their bowel.

Therefore, most patients should have a litre of normal saline in the first hour and a further litre over the next three to four hours. Patients who are dehydrated or who have taken vasodilating or negatively chronotropic drugs will usually need even more fluid. See [[3.1.1 Hypotension]]