Norwegian Poisons Information Centre

The advice aims to ensure proper treatment of poisonings at the appropriate level of healthcare. This is primarily done through the Poisons Information Centre, which is a 24/7 telephone service. We respond to over 45,000 inquiries annually, with over 90% of them related to acute exposures. 

Knowledge

Updated knowledge and competent staff are crucial to ensuring high-quality advice. 

Poisonings can result from exposure to various substances such as chemicals, gases, medications, household products, industrial chemicals, drugs, fungi, plants, or toxic animals. The exposure routes can include oral (ingested through the mouth), inhalation (breathed in), through the skin, injection, or in the eyes. 

To ensure that callers receive high-quality advice promptly and that the advice is tailored to the conditions in the Norwegian healthcare system, we develop our own information to support counseling on selected topics. The department monitors literature in acute toxicology to capture new knowledge and has access to databases crucial for counseling. 

The information developed to support counseling is also used for online information. We publish treatment recommendations for healthcare professionals on Helsebiblioteket's webpage about poisonings (only in Norwegian).

On Helesenorge.no's webpage about poisonings (only in Norwegian), we have a range of articles for the general public to help parents and others assess whether common accidents are dangerous and require follow-up. In the Felleskatalogen and Norsk legemiddelhåndbok, we compile a poisoning chapter with brief information about the risks of various drugs and substances to support healthcare professionals.