Clinical toxicology : the official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Apr 2011
ReviewHigh-dose insulin therapy in beta-blocker and calcium channel-blocker poisoning.
INTRODUCTION. High-dose insulin therapy, along with glucose supplementation, has emerged as an effective treatment for severe beta-blocker and calcium channel-blocker poisoning. We review the experimental data and clinical experience that suggests high-dose insulin is superior to conventional therapies for these poisonings. PRESENTATION AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. Hypotension, bradycardia, decreased systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and cardiogenic shock are characteristic features of beta-blocker and calcium-channel blocker poisoning. ⋯ The change in serum potassium concentrations reflects a shifting of potassium from the extracellular to intracellular space rather than a decrease in total body stores. CONCLUSIONS. While more clinical data are needed, animal studies and human case reports demonstrate that high-dose insulin (1-10 U/kg/hour) is a superior treatment in terms of safety and survival in both beta-blocker and calcium-channel blocker poisoning. High-dose insulin should be considered initial therapy in these poisonings.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Apr 2011
Case ReportsSerum verapamil concentrations before and after Intralipid® therapy during treatment of an overdose.
CONTEXT. Intralipid® infusion is useful in reversing cardiac and central nervous system toxicity of local anesthetic drugs, and recent reports suggest utility in other drug overdoses. CASE DETAILS. A 47-year-old man presented to the emergency department with hypotension and complete heart block 3 h after a sustained-release verapamil overdose. He was given supportive care including calcium and hyperinsulinemia/euglycemia therapy. ⋯ OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine the serum verapamil concentrations before and after Intralipid® administration and to ascertain its clinical effects. DISCUSSION. It was found that administration of Intralipid® was followed by a decrease in verapamil concentration once the lipid had been removed from the sample, demonstrating that Intralipid® was effective in sequestering verapamil, effectively removing it from the serum, and supporting its use in the treatment of verapamil overdose. Intralipid® administration was associated with an increase in the patient's blood pressure, but because other vasoactive drugs were given at the same time, it was difficult to determine its relative contribution to clinical improvement.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Apr 2011
Case ReportsSuccessful reversal of life threatening cardiac effect following dosulepin overdose using intravenous lipid emulsion.
CONTEXT. We report a successful acute reversal of potential life threatening QRS complex widening and prolonged QT interval following dosulepin overdose using intravenous lipid emulsion 20% in an unstable patient. CASE DETAILS. A 36-year-old female following the ingestion of 5.25 g of dosulepin. On submission the QRS complex was 120 ms and the QT interval was 348 ms (BP 129/71 mmHg, HR 113 beats/min). ⋯ DISCUSSION. Cyclic antidepressants affect the cardiac conduction system and the myocardium. The exact mechanism of action from intravenous lipid emulsions may not be determined from the data presented, and the obtained effect does not rule out the supposed effects of alkalinisation and supported ventilation. However, the effects of the treatment of the severe dosulepin intoxication support the theory of intravenous lipid emulsions creating an intravenous lipid sink for drugs with high lipid solubility.
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Nutmeg is widely used as a household spice. Numerous citations in the medical literature report its abuse as a psychoactive agent, primarily for its purported hallucinogenic effects that are thought to be due to the compound myristicin; these are primarily limited to case reports. ⋯ Although nutmeg exposure is uncommonly encountered, clinical effects from ingestion can be significant and can require medical intervention. While clinically significant effects were common, life-threatening toxicity and death did not occur in this series.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Dec 2010
Usefulness of the serum lactate concentration for predicting mortality in acute beta-blocker poisoning.
Serum lactate measured in the emergency department was recently assessed as an excellent prognosticator of drug-overdose fatality, with the optimal lactate cutoff point being 3.0 mmol/L. However, lactate's role has never been specifically studied in beta-blocker poisonings. ⋯ Serum lactate elevation in beta-blocker poisoning is relatively mild on admission despite the presence of significant cardiovascular symptoms. Even if raised in severe poisonings and alone correlate well with prognosis, lactate concentration is not an absolute predictor of beta-blocker-overdose fatality.