Clinical Manifestations in Intoxications by Tricyclic Antidepressants

A Fernandez Ibanez*¹, R Ugalde Herra², JA Rodriguez Getino¹, JB Garcia Casas¹ and JC Diaz Suarez¹

Received: August 23, 2018;   Published: August 29, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.08.001659

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Abstract

Introduction: Tricyclic antidepressants are used in multiple psychiatric disorders such as depressive syndrome or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Acute intoxications by this drug if not treated in time, have a high mortality due to the cardiovascular effects that occur in the body.

Objective: Detect acute poisoning by tricyclic antidepressants with the analytical values in serum of patients who have symptoms compatible to establish treatment early.

Method: Review of the clinical history of patients who in the urine drug screening test were positive for tricyclic antidepressants and had a compatible electrocardiogram. Venous blood samples were processed in Cobas 6000 e501 (Roche Dignostics) by the homogeneous enzyme immunoassay technique.

Results: Differentiation in 3 groups of patients according to the plasma concentration values.

Conclusions: The quantification of the plasma concentration of tricyclic antidepressants offers additional information to confirm the diagnosis but not for the urgent treatment of these intoxicates because the free concentration of the drug is modified with pH or the individual variability.

It must remember that many of these intoxications are associated with benzodiazepine poisoning, so treatment with flumazenil is contraindicated because it can produce convulsions.

Abstract | Introduction | Patients and Methodology | Results | Discussion | Conclusion | References |