Reactions 712 - 1 Aug 1998

SCitalopram overdose

Death: case reportA 17-year-old woman died from an overdose of 140 tablets

of citalopram (2800mg).Following ingestion of the overdose, the woman was

hospitalised in a conscious and cooperative state and wastreated with gastric lavage and activated charcoal. She thenexperienced 2 seizures and was found to have bradycardia andwidened QRS complexes. She subsequently had a cardiacarrest and required resuscitation and intubation.

The woman was treated with epinephrine [adrenaline] andbicarbonates and her heart function normalised. However, sheremained in a coma for several weeks and developedneurological problems, such as neck hypertonia, andhyperthermia.

Several weeks after hospital admission, cerebral death wasdiagnosed. The woman’s blood citalopram concentrationswere found to be very high.Penfornis C, et al. Fatal case of citalopram intoxication. Veterinary and HumanToxicology 40: 178, Jun 1998 [abstract] - France 800688356

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Reactions 1 Aug 1998 No. 7120114-9954/10/0712-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved