[A fatal overdose of venlafaxine]

Ugeskr Laeger. 2014 Feb 24;176(9A):V09130539.
[Article in Danish]

Abstract

An 18-year-old woman ingested 22 g of venlafaxine with suicidal attempt. At admittance two hours after ingestion she had serotonine syndrome, repeated seizures and hypotension. After eight hours malignant arrythmias culminated in cardiac arrest, which was successfully resuscitated. Progressive liver and cardiac failure lead to fatal outcome after 48 hours. It is discussed whether early lipid infusion should be given in case of ingestion of high doses of venlafaxine, before myoclonia, seizures, hypotension, rhabdomyolysis and liver failure developed, since these can only be treated symptomatically.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / poisoning*
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy
  • Drug Overdose / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Suicide
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / poisoning*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride