Carbamazepine overdose
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Reactions 389 - 22 Feb 1992 S Carbamazepine overdose Heart disorders: case report and review Hypotension, bradycardia and hypothermia were observed in a 58-year-old woman who had a seizure disorder, anxiety and depression. The patient had received carbamazepine and alprazolam for 2 years. Pacemaker application was considered following abnormal ECG examination but the patient’s condition improved. Serum carbamazepine levels were above the therapeutic range. The patient recovered and was discharged without therapy alteration. Within 1 week she presented again with hypotension, bradycardia and hypothermia; serum levels of carbamazepine were again elevated. Sinus arrhythmia was observed and an atrioventricular block was suspected. Carbamazepine was withheld for 48 hours and the patient recovered. A review of the reported cases of carbamazepine overdose revealed 2 distinct syndromes. Nonlife-threatening sinus tachycardia was seen in young patients who had ingested large amounts of carbamazepine Bradycardia and atrioventricular conduction delay were observed in older women with modestly elevated serum carbamazepine levels. ’This latter syndrome has important clinical implications for the treatment of elderly patients taking carbamazepine.’ Carbamazepine-induced cardiac dysfunction. Characterization of two distinct clinical syndromes. Archives of Internal Medicine 152: 186-191, Jan 1992 - USA 800118082 1 Reactions 22 Feb 1992 No. 389 0114-9954/10/0389-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Carbamazepine overdose
Reactions 389 - 22 Feb 1992
SCarbamazepine overdose
Heart disorders: case report and reviewHypotension, bradycardia and hypothermia were observed
in a 58-year-old woman who had a seizure disorder, anxietyand depression. The patient had received carbamazepine andalprazolam for 2 years.
Pacemaker application was considered following abnormalECG examination but the patient’s condition improved. Serumcarbamazepine levels were above the therapeutic range. Thepatient recovered and was discharged without therapyalteration.
Within 1 week she presented again with hypotension,bradycardia and hypothermia; serum levels of carbamazepinewere again elevated. Sinus arrhythmia was observed and anatrioventricular block was suspected. Carbamazepine waswithheld for 48 hours and the patient recovered.
A review of the reported cases of carbamazepine overdoserevealed 2 distinct syndromes. Nonlife-threatening sinustachycardia was seen in young patients who had ingested largeamounts of carbamazepine Bradycardia and atrioventricularconduction delay were observed in older women withmodestly elevated serum carbamazepine levels. ’This lattersyndrome has important clinical implications for the treatmentof elderly patients taking carbamazepine.’Carbamazepine-induced cardiac dysfunction. Characterization of two distinctclinical syndromes. Archives of Internal Medicine 152: 186-191, Jan 1992 -USA 800118082
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Reactions 22 Feb 1992 No. 3890114-9954/10/0389-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
