Full recovery after a chloroquine suicide attempt

J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1991;29(1):23-30. doi: 10.3109/15563659109038594.

Abstract

The nonfatal case of a 20 year-old woman who ingested 6 grams of chloroquine in a suicide attempt is reported. After initial ventricular fibrillation, she rapidly developed a pulmonary edema with cardiogenic shock. She was successfully treated with diazepam, epinephrine, dobutamine and mechanical ventilation. Plasma chloroquine levels showed an initial peak of 36 micrograms/mL. The patient was discharged fully recovered after 19 days. The interaction between chloroquine and diazepam is discussed, as is the need for careful management of epinephrine therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chloroquine / blood
  • Chloroquine / poisoning*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Diazepam / therapeutic use
  • Dobutamine / therapeutic use
  • Epinephrine / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Poisoning / complications
  • Poisoning / therapy
  • Pulmonary Edema / chemically induced
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Shock, Cardiogenic / chemically induced
  • Suicide, Attempted*
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / chemically induced

Substances

  • Dobutamine
  • Chloroquine
  • Diazepam
  • Epinephrine