Citation

Chai PR, Ferro EG, Kirshenbaum JM, Hayes BD, Culbreth SE, Boyer EW, Erickson TB. J. Med. Toxicol. 2020; 16(3): 314-320.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s13181-020-00790-8

PMID

32514696

PMCID

PMC7278768

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Recent attention on the possible use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat COVID-19 disease has potentially triggered a number of overdoses from hydroxychloroquine. Toxicity from hydroxychloroquine manifests with cardiac conduction abnormalities, seizure activity, and muscle weakness. Recognizing this toxidrome and unique management of this toxicity is important in the COVID-19 pandemic.
CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis presented to the emergency department 7 hours after an intentional overdose of hydroxychloroquine. Initial presentation demonstrated proximal muscle weakness. The patient was found to have a QRS complex of 134 ms and QTc of 710 ms. He was treated with early orotracheal intubation and intravenous diazepam boluses. Due to difficulties formulating continuous diazepam infusions, we opted to utilize an intermitted intravenous bolus strategy that achieved similar effects that a continuous infusion would. The patient recovered without residual side effects.
DISCUSSION: Hydroxychloroquine toxicity is rare but projected to increase in frequency given its selection as a potential modality to treat COVID-19 disease. It is important for clinicians to recognize the unique effects of hydroxychloroquine poisoning and initiate appropriate emergency maneuvers to improve the outcomes in these patients.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; United States; Adult; Male; COVID-19; Drug Overdose; Treatment Outcome; Suicide, Attempted; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Chloroquine; Diazepam; Hydroxychloroquine; Pandemics; Coronavirus Infections; Pneumonia, Viral; Adverse Reactions; Drug-Related Side Effects; hydroxycholorquine