Zaleplon overdose
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Reactions 1174 - 20 Oct 2007 ★ O S Zaleplon overdose Hypokalaemia (first report), impaired consciousness and vomiting: case report A 15-year-old girl intentionally self-administered six 10-mg tablets of zaleplon [Selofen; total dose 1.2 mg/kg] in a suicide attempt and, 1.5 hours later, started vomiting copiously and was subsequently hospitalised. On admission, her HR was regular at 108–115 beats/minute, and she had slurred speech, drowsiness and delayed verbal reactions. About 2.5–3 hours after she had taken zaleplon, she developed hypotonia, dilated pupils with a slow response to light, and ataxia. Biochemical analyses identified hypokalaemia (3.2 mmol/L). After approximately 4 hours’ maintenance therapy, her ataxia, hypotonia and slurred speech disappeared; her drowsiness resolved after a further 2–3 hours. She was discharged after 36 hours’ observation. Author comment: The patient’s hypokalaemia appears to have been caused by her heavy vomiting. Sein Anand J, et al. Acute intoxication with zaleplon - a case report. Przeglad Lekarski 64: 310-311, No. 4-5, 2007 [Polish; summarised from a translation] - Poland 801093377 » Editorial comment: A search of AdisBase and Medline did not reveal any previous case reports of hypokalaemia associated with zaleplon The WHO Adverse Drug Reactions database contained 2 reports of hypokalaemia associated with zaleplon. 1 Reactions 20 Oct 2007 No. 1174 0114-9954/10/1174-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Zaleplon overdose
Reactions 1174 - 20 Oct 2007
★ O SZaleplon overdose
Hypokalaemia (first report), impaired consciousnessand vomiting: case report
A 15-year-old girl intentionally self-administered six 10-mgtablets of zaleplon [Selofen; total dose 1.2 mg/kg] in a suicideattempt and, 1.5 hours later, started vomiting copiously andwas subsequently hospitalised. On admission, her HR wasregular at 108–115 beats/minute, and she had slurred speech,drowsiness and delayed verbal reactions. About 2.5–3 hoursafter she had taken zaleplon, she developed hypotonia, dilatedpupils with a slow response to light, and ataxia. Biochemicalanalyses identified hypokalaemia (3.2 mmol/L). Afterapproximately 4 hours’ maintenance therapy, her ataxia,hypotonia and slurred speech disappeared; her drowsinessresolved after a further 2–3 hours. She was discharged after36 hours’ observation.
Author comment: The patient’s hypokalaemia appears tohave been caused by her heavy vomiting.Sein Anand J, et al. Acute intoxication with zaleplon - a case report. PrzegladLekarski 64: 310-311, No. 4-5, 2007 [Polish; summarised from a translation] -Poland 801093377
» Editorial comment: A search of AdisBase and Medline didnot reveal any previous case reports of hypokalaemia associatedwith zaleplon The WHO Adverse Drug Reactions databasecontained 2 reports of hypokalaemia associated with zaleplon.
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Reactions 20 Oct 2007 No. 11740114-9954/10/1174-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
