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Poisoning with Over-the-Counter Doxylamine Preparations: An Evaluation of 109 Cases

Reanimationszentrum and Poison Control Center, Klinikum Charlottenburg, Freie Universität Berlin, D-1000 Berlin

J. Tenczer

Department of Toxicology, Landesuntersuchungsinstitut für Lebensmittel, Arzneimittel und Tierseuchen Berlin, D-1000 Berlin 21, Federal Republic of Germany

K. Ibe

Reanimationszentrum and Poison Control Center, Klinikum Charlottenburg, Freie Universität Berlin, D-1000 Berlin

One hundred and nine cases of monointoxication with doxylamine were evaluated with respect to age distribution, amount ingested, plasma level, and clinical symptomatology. The age of 60% of the patients ranged between 16 and 30 years. In about 60% of the cases 10 to 40 times a single therapeutic dose (25 mg) was ingested. Doxylamine plasma concentrations exceeded the maximum plasma level after a therapeutic dose by a factor of 10 to 40 in two-thirds of cases. The most frequent symptoms included impaired consciousness, seizures, tachycardia, mydriasis and a 'psychosis' similar to that in catatonic stupor. A serious complication may be rhabdomyolysis with subsequent impairment of renal function and acute renal failure. No symptoms were observed in 39% of the patients. No correlation was found between the amount ingested or doxylamine plasma level and the clinical symptomatology. Primary detoxication included gastric lavage, administration of activated charcoal and sodium sulfate. Regarding the high frequency of doxylamine overdose and its possible complications the question arises as to whether doxylamine-containing preparations should be subjected to prescription.

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 6, No. 5, 355-359 (1987)
DOI: 10.1177/096032718700600503


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