BMJ 1994;309:193 (16 July)

Letters

Overdose of calcium channel blockers

EDITOR, - John Kenny discusses several ways of treating overdose of calcium channel blockers,1 but reference should also be made to specific antidotes for toxicity due to calcium channel blockers. These antidotes can be very effective, especially in verapamil overdose. 4- Aminopyridine has been used in verapamil toxicity due to renal failure, reverting a third degree heart block to sinus rhythm.2 Bay K 8644 and RS 30026 (derivatives of dihydropyridine) are experimental drugs that increase the opening time and reduce the closing time of calcium channels3 and antagonise the effects of blockade of calcium channels in both heart and blood vessels. These drugs have been promising in animal studies of overdose of calcium channel blockers4 and may soon emerge into clinical practice.

J J W M Stevens 

Department of Anaesthesia, Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge CB3 8RE.

  1. Kenny J. Treating overdose with calcium channel blockers. BMJ 1994;308:992-3. (16 April.) [Free Full Text]
  2. Ter Wee PM, Kremer Hovinga TK, Uges DRA, van der Geest S. 4- Aminopyridine and . . . [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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