Citation

Nisse P, Humbert L, Flahaut G, Riviere A, Cezard C, Mathieu-Nolf M. Acta Clin. Belg. 2010; 65(Suppl 1): 38-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Maney Publishing)

DOI

10.1179/acb.2010.107

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Dextropropoxyphene overdose is known to cause widening of the QRS complex on electrocardiogram. We report a case of a 18 years old woman who ingested 36 g paracetamol and 2,1 g dextropropoxyphene in suicide attempt. She developed seizures, wide QRS complex and cardiac arrest. The routine blood screening for different psychotropic drugs, opiates and alcohol turned out to be negative. The propoxyphene and paracetamol high concentrations determined in plasma were respectively 4.321 μg/ml at 3.5 hours (lethal value > 2 μg/ml) and 588 ?g/ml at 5.0 hours (toxic value > 168 μg/ml). Cardiac arrest consecutive to the toxic effects of dextropropoxyphene on respiratory and cardiac functions usually occurs within one hour after ingestion and before patient reaches hospital.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; Poisoning; Cardiac arrest; case report; suicide attempt; Acetaminophen; hospital; article; unclassified drug; noradrenalin; dextropropoxyphene; paracetamol; drug blood level; seizure; heart arrest; lung function; phenobarbital; Paracetamol; clonazepam; acetylcysteine; adrenalin; electrocardiogram; insulin; epileptic state; QRS complex; Propoxyphene; heart function; dialgirex; Dysrhythmia