Acid and alkaline diuresis. When are they of value in the treatment of poisoning?

The utility of both acid and alkaline diuresis has been brought into question because of the ability to increase the elimination rate of many toxins by less care-intensive methods such as repeated-dose charcoal. Alkaline diuresis is a technique which uses a common drug, but acid diuresis is not a technique known to most physicians. The former is currently the best therapy for quinine poisoning. Phencyclidine elimination is increased by 10%, but most patients recover with only supportive care. Acidification has been effective in some hands; data suggest that renal elimination is not the only mechanism of action of this therapy. In deeply comatose patients with hypotension, acidification should be considered. Alkalinisation, the mainstay of therapy for salicylate and phenobarbital poisoning over many decades, is effective, although no more so than charcoal, and less than dialysis.