BMJ 1994;308:1571 (11 June)

Letters

Overdose of diltiazem

EDITOR, - In response to John Kenny's editorial on the hazards associated with calcium channel blockers in overdose1 I wish to report my and colleagues' findings with respect to fatal overdose of diltiazem.2 Diltiazem is an antianginal drug that has been available in Britain since 1985. Six fatal cases of overdose have been reported.*RF 2-4* It is difficult to estimate the incidence of overdose of diltiazem as only one poisons centre in Britain (the National Poisons Information Service, London) keeps a database on overdoses of this drug. Between 1983 and 1988, 14 cases of overdose of diltiazem occurred in adults and ifive cases of accidental ingestion occurred in children. In France, between 1979 and 1988, 83 cases of overdose occurred in adults and 51 accidental poisonings occurred in children.5 The true incidence of overdose of diltiazem is probably grossly underestimated.

As Kenny pointed out, routine drug screening for calcium channel . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Treating overdose with calcium channel blockers
J Kenny
BMJ 1994 308: 992-993. [Extract] [Full Text]

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