Alkalinizing the urine with sodium bicarbonate is useful in the treatment of poisoning with I. ASA II. Salicylates III. Barbiturates IV. Morphine

• A. I, II
• B. I, II, III
• C. I, II, IV
• D. I, III, IV

Answer: (B)

Urine alkalinization helps eliminate certain poisons by changing their ionization state. When urine is made more alkaline, weak acid toxins become ionized and are trapped in the urine, which promotes their excretion. This approach is especially useful for weak acids like salicylates (aspirin) and barbiturates. Morphine, however, is a weak base, so making the urine alkaline would reduce its excretion (acidifying urine would help excrete weak bases). Therefore, alkalinizing urine is beneficial for salicylates and barbiturates, but not for morphine. This means the toxins that benefit are the ones listed as I, II, and III.