Human & experimental toxicology
-
Prognostic factors for severe complications in tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose remain unclear. We therefore evaluated the value of clinical characteristics and electrocardiograph (ECG) parameters to predict serious events (seizures, arrhythmia, death) in severe TCA overdose of 100 patients using logistic regression models for risk assessment. ⋯ In the multivariable logistic regression model, the QRS interval could not be established as independent predictor, however, the terminal 40-ms frontal plane QRS vector (T40) reached statistical significance regarding prediction of serious events (odds ration [OR] 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.84; p = .041), along with age and time lag between ingestion and onset of symptoms of overdose with a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 70%, respectively. Evaluation of both clinical characteristics and ECG-parameters in the early stage of TCA overdose may help to identify those patients who urgently need further aggressive medical observation and management.
-
Zolpidem is available in immediate-release (IR) and controlled-release (CR) formulations. This investigation examined whether there were differences in zolpidem IR and CR ingestions reported to poison control centers. Zolpidem ingestions that did not involve co-ingestants reported to Texas poison control centers during 2005-2008 were identified. ⋯ The most frequently reported adverse clinical effects were, for IR and CR, respectively, drowsiness (54.4% vs 42.3%), tachycardia (10.6% vs 11.7%), ataxia (6.3% vs 11.7%), slurred speech (6.3% vs 6.7%), vomiting (5.0% vs 5.5%) and hallucinations/delusions (4.9% vs 3.1%). The distribution of zolpidem IR and CR ingestions reported to Texas poison control centers were similar. However, zolpidem CR ingestions appeared less likely to result in drowsiness and hallucinations but more likely to result in ataxia.