fluvoxamine and Drug-Overdose

The morbidity and mortality caused by tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose are well recognized. Among newer antidepressants, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are thought to be safer in overdose. This study was designed to describe the signs, symptoms, and mortality associated with SSRI overdose.. English-language articles identified through MEDLINE (1985 through 1997), and case reports from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) (1987 through 1996) and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adverse event database (through 1997) that describe findings of fatal and nonfatal overdoses involving SSRIs alone or in combination with other ingestants were reviewed.. SSRI antidepressants are rarely fatal in overdose when taken alone. During the 10 years that SSRI antidepressants have been marketed, there have been remarkably few fatal overdoses reported in the literature or to the AAPCC or FDA involving ingestion only of an SSRI. Moderate overdoses (up to 30 times the common daily dose) are associated with minor or no symptoms, while ingestions of greater amounts typically result in drowsiness, tremor, nausea, and vomiting. At very high doses (> 75 times the common daily dose), more serious adverse events, including seizures, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, and decreased consciousness may occur. SSRI overdoses in combination with alcohol or other drugs are associated with increased toxicity, and almost all fatalities involving SSRIs have involved coingestion of other substances.. The SSRI antidepressants are far safer than the TCAs in overdose. There is no apparent difference among SSRIs with respect to overdose safety.

Topics: Adult; Child; Citalopram; Drug Overdose; Fluoxetine; Fluvoxamine; Humans; Paroxetine; Poison Control Centers; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Sertraline; United States

A man in his forties was found dead in his friend's home, with moderate putrefaction. Quantitative toxicological analysis showed that concentrations of caffeine, chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine, and methylephedrine were 183.3 µg/mL, 0.533 µg/mL, 2.469 µg/mL and 8.336 µg/mL, respectively. Ephedrine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, etizolam, fluvoxamine and 7-aminoflunitrazepam were detected in an aortic blood sample. Caffeine, chlorpheniramine, dihydrocodeine and methylephedrine are the main components of BRON

Topics: Autopsy; Caffeine; Chlorpheniramine; Drug Overdose; Eating; Fluvoxamine; Humans; Male

Fluvoxamine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that has been considered relatively safe in overdose. At therapeutic and supratherapeutic concentrations, fluvoxamine affects cardiac conduction, prolongs QTc interval, causes hypotension, obtundation, and can increase propensity for seizures. A man in his 60s was found dead at his home with a postmortem fluvoxamine peripheral blood concentration of 4.9 mg/L, and a liver concentration of 440 mg/kg. His cause of death was determined to be acute fluvoxamine toxicity.

Topics: Drug Overdose; Fluvoxamine; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Limit of Detection; Liver; Male; Middle Aged; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

We experienced the first death case of the serotonin syndrome in Japan caused by fluvoxamine and tandospirone. A 15-year-old man was transported to our hospital for shock, muscle hypertonia and hyperthermia after cardiopulmonary arrest. His serum concentrations of fluvoxamine and tandospirone were 3,554 ng/mL and 698 ng/mL respectively after 24 hours from oral intake. He was dead in spite of intensive treatments. The progress of the serotonin syndrome is usually rapid. So, it should be monitored appropriately a patient with serotonin syndrome. If he has hyperthermia, immediate paralysis should be induced. We should aware of the serotonin syndrome a case of overdose on a serotonergic agent.

Topics: Adolescent; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Drug Overdose; Fatal Outcome; Fever; Fluvoxamine; Heart Arrest; Humans; Isoindoles; Japan; Male; Muscle Hypertonia; Piperazines; Pyrimidines; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Serotonin Receptor Agonists; Severity of Illness Index; Shock; Syndrome

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are newly developed-antidepressants authorized in 1999 in Japan. We experienced a case of drug poisoning including fluvoxamine, one of SSRI. A comatose nineteen-year-old girl was transported to our ER in the morning on July 25, 2000. There remained many empty packages of fluvoxamine and several sorts of tranquilizers in the room. Her consciousness became alert over the next morning. HPLC analysis revealed fluvoxamine, chlorpromazine, promethazine, biperiden, phenobarbital, and zopiclone in her blood and that serum concentrations of the first three were above the therapeutic ranges. The peak values of fluvoxamine, chlorpromazine, and promethazine were 1,343 ng/ml (6.7 times of the upper limit), 861 ng/ml (2 times), and 529 ng/ml (1.3 times), respectively. Fluvoxamine must be a main cause of her toxic symptoms although other CNS-depressing drugs might work jointly.

Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug Overdose; Female; Fluvoxamine; Humans; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Time Factors; Tranquilizing Agents

Hypotension occurred following a combined beta blocker (atenolol), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (quinapil) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluvoxamine) overdose. In another instance heart block and hypotension was noted in association with a diltiazem and atenolol adverse interaction. Crystalloid infusion was ineffective in both cases, but toxicity was rapidly reversed with aminophylline administration. Aminophylline's recognized inotropic and chronotropic properties make it a potentially valuable therapeutic agent in the treatment of antihypertensive medication toxicity.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aminophylline; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Atenolol; Cardiotonic Agents; Drug Overdose; Female; Fluvoxamine; Humans; Hypotension; Isoquinolines; Middle Aged; Quinapril; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Tetrahydroisoquinolines; Treatment Outcome

Four postmortem cases are reported in which the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor fluvoxamine was identified. Fluvoxamine was detectable using a standard alkaline drug screen, chromatographed well using a HP-1 column, and did not require derivitization for quantitation. Two of the cases reported were drug intoxications; fluvoxamine was only an incidental finding in the other 2 cases. Central and peripheral blood values are reported, as well as antemortem blood, bile, vitreous fluid, and urine values. No solid organs were obtained in any of the cases. Quantitations were performed using both an analytical standard and a fluvoxamine tablet for the preparation of calibrators. A comparison of quantitative values was made to evaluate the feasibility of using a tablet as the drug source for the preparation of calibrators when a pure reference material is unavailable. Postmortem peripheral blood concentrations ranged from approximately 0.5 mg/L in a case of suicidal shooting to approximately 6 mg/L in a case of drug overdose. Evidence of postmortem redistribution was noted in the only case for which both central and peripheral blood were obtained. Quantitations using an extracted drug tablet for the preparation of calibrators correlated well with quantitations using a pure reference material.

Topics: Adult; Chromatography, Gas; Drug Overdose; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Fluvoxamine; Forensic Medicine; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Suicide; Tissue Distribution

Deliberate drug overdose is a frequent occurrence in patients with schizophrenia. Typical antipsychotic medications can be lethal at doses 5 times the recommended therapeutic range. Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, can be toxic at doses 4 times a moderate dose. Little is known about the lethal effects of the novel antipsychotic risperidone, despite the fact that it is now one of the most widely prescribed antipsychotics in North America. To date, only 1 death attributable to risperidone overdose has been reported. The case presented here documents adverse cardiac effects in a 28-year-old man who intentionally ingested 24 mg of risperidone--4 times the recommended dose. A potential drug interaction with fluvoxamine and the role of active metabolites are discussed.

Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Antipsychotic Agents; Drug Interactions; Drug Overdose; Electrocardiography; Fluvoxamine; Heart Block; Humans; Hypotension; Male; Risperidone; Schizophrenia; Suicide, Attempted

Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Depressive Disorder; Drug Overdose; Female; Fluvoxamine; Humans; Suicide, Attempted; Trimeprazine

Topics: Bradycardia; Buspirone; Depressive Disorder; Drug Interactions; Drug Overdose; Electrocardiography; Female; Fluvoxamine; Humans; Middle Aged; Suicide, Attempted

The large number of antidepressants available provides a wide range of choice. While clinical effectiveness is the most important consideration, toxicity in overdose must be considered in the risk-benefit assessment of each antidepressant. There are almost 300 deaths each year in Britain from tricyclic overdose, and very few deaths from newer antidepressants. Fluvoxamine appears to have low toxicity in overdose. Symptoms are often minimal: nausea, vomiting, dizziness and somnolence. There is one reported case of prolonged cerebral depression after ingestion of 5.5 g. Overdoses of up to 9 g have produced minimal symptoms and full recovery. No deaths from overdose with fluvoxamine alone have been reported in the literature, although one death certificate in Britain has mentioned fluvoxamine as the cause of death. Fluvoxamine appears to be a valuable alternative to the tricyclic antidepressants, and has a high margin of safety in overdose.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Overdose; Female; Fluvoxamine; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors

Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Bipolar Disorder; Drug Overdose; Female; Fluvoxamine; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Oximes