This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Howarth, D.M. Articles by Whyte, I.M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Howarth, D.M. Articles by Whyte, I.M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Calcium Channel Blockin Drug Overdose: an Australian Series

Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia

A.H. Dawson

Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia

A.J. Smith

Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia

N. Buckley

Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia

I.M. Whyte

Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia

1 A descriptive case study of calcium channel-blocking drug (CCB) overdoses in the Hunter Region of NSW was performed to analyse the in-hospital morbidity and mortality of CCB drug overdoses in an Australian population.

2 The patients were admitted to major hospitals within the Hunter Region and treated initially with gastrointestinal decontamination, including the use of oral activated charcoal. Further management was required in most cases and included intravenous calcium, atropine and inotropic support.

3 Of the 15 CCB overdoses, four patients died. Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema occurred in two other cases. Cardiac conduction defects occurred in 11 cases.

4 Atropine was found to be effective only after intravenous calcium had been administered.

5 Overdose with slow-release verapamil required prolonged treatment with intravenous calcium salts.

6 Overdose with verapamil or diltiazem in doses greater than 300 mg carries a significant risk of death and potentially life threatening arrhythmias occur with lower doses.

7 Recommended initial management includes early, effective gastrointestinal decontamination. High dose intravenous calcium salts should be given to reverse hypotension and bradycardia. Atropine and inotropic support are frequently required.

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 13, No. 3, 161-166 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/096032719401300304


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?