The problem of tricyclic antidepressant poisoning. Issue 646 (August 1979)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crome, P.; Newman, B.
• Is Part Of: Postgraduate medical journal. Volume 55:Issue 646(1979)
• Page Start: 528
• Page End: 532
• Publication Date: 1979-08
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.55.646.528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-5473

Abstract

Abstract : In the year May 1976 to April 1977, 489 enquiries about the management of tricyclic antidepressant poisoning received at the London Centre of the National Poisons Information Service were followed-up. One hundred and sixty-four patients (33.5%) were unconscious, convulsions occurred in 62 (12.7%), hypotension in 31 (6.3%), respiratory depression in 28 (5.7%), tachydysrhythmias in 17 (3.5%) and cardiac arrest in 12 patients (2.5%). Sixteen patients died (3.3%). No statistically significant differences were found between individual antidepressants although poisoning with amitriptyline-like drugs resulted in a significantly higher proportion of unconscious patients than poisoning with imipramine-like drugs (P less than 0.01). There were more asymptomatic children than adults and more unconscious adults than children. Tricyclic antidepressant poisoning is a major clinical problem in general medical and paediatric practice.