Fatal overdose with trazodone: case report and literature review

Acta Clin Belg. 2001 Jul-Aug;56(4):258-61. doi: 10.1179/acb.2001.038.

Abstract

A fatal case of suicide with trazodone alone in a 40-year-old patient is reported. Life-threatening arrhythmias, such as torsades de pointes and complete AV block, are recorded. Blood collected at admission contained a trazodone toxic concentration of 25.4 micrograms/mL. The patient developed multiple organ failure and died less than 24 hours after his admission to the emergency department. The authors discuss the effects of overdose of trazodone, a well-known safe antidepressant drug.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / poisoning*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / chemically induced
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Suicide
  • Trazodone / poisoning*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Trazodone