Upper airway compromise in acute chlorpromazine ingestion

Am J Emerg Med. 1996 Sep;14(5):467-8. doi: 10.1016/S0735-6757(96)90154-0.

Abstract

A 16-year-old boy developed symptoms of acute upper airway compromise after chlorpromazine ingestion. The patient took six 100-mg Thorazine tablets "to help him sleep". Laryngeal-pharyngeal dystonia is a life-threatening form of dystonic reaction that is dose-dependent. In children, acute upper airway compromise should raise the suspicion of exposure to phenothiazines.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Airway Obstruction / chemically induced*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / poisoning*
  • Chlorpromazine / poisoning*
  • Deglutition Disorders / chemically induced
  • Drug Overdose
  • Humans
  • Macroglossia / chemically induced
  • Male

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Chlorpromazine