Desvenlafaxine overdose and the occurrence of serotonin toxicity, seizures and cardiovascular effects

Cooper, J.M., Brown, J.A., Cairns, R., and Isbister, G.K. (2017) Desvenlafaxine overdose and the occurrence of serotonin toxicity, seizures and cardiovascular effects. Clinical Toxicology, 55 (1). pp. 18-24.

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Abstract

Context: Desvenlafaxine is used to treat major depression. Desvenlafaxine is also the active metabolite of venlafaxine. Venlafaxine overdose can cause serotonin toxicity, seizures and cardiovascular effects, but there is limited information on desvenlafaxine overdose.

Objective: We aimed at investigating the clinical effects and complications from desvenlafaxine overdose.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective observational study of desvenlafaxine overdoses over a six-year period. Demographic details, dose and timing of the overdose, together with clinical effects, treatment and complications were extracted from a local hospital network database or the medical records of patients following hospital admission with a desvenlafaxine overdose.

Results: There were 182 cases of desvenlafaxine overdose included in the study. From the 182 cases, 75 were desvenlafaxine (± alcohol) only ingestions and 107 included one or more co-ingested drugs. In single-agent desvenlafaxine ingestions, median age was 25 years (range: 13-68 years) with a median ingested dose of 800 mg (range: 250-3500 mg; interquartile range (IQR): 600-1400 mg), and 54/75 (72%) were female. The Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 15 in 68/74 (92%) patients, 13-14 in 5/74 (7%), and was seven in one patient following aspiration. Mild hypertension (systolic blood pressure [BP] > 140-180 mmHg) occurred in 23/71 patients (32%), and tachycardia occurred in 29/74 (39%) patients. There were no abnormal QT intervals and no QRS >120 m s. Serotonin toxicity was diagnosed by the treating physician in 7/75 (9%) patients, but only one of these met the Hunter Serotonin Toxicity Criteria. None of the 75 patients who took desvenlafaxine only (± alcohol) had seizures, were admitted to intensive care or died. In comparison, the 107 patients taking desvenlafaxine in overdose with other medications developed more pronounced toxicity. Generalised seizures occurred in 5/107 (5%), but in three of these cases co-ingestants were possible proconvulsants. Fifteen patients had a GCS ≤9 and none had an abnormal QT or QRS. Severe effects appeared to be associated with coingestants.

Conclusion: Desvenlafaxine overdose causes minor effects with mild hypertension and tachycardia. The risk of seizures or serotonin toxicity is low.

Item ID: 73236
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1556-9519
Keywords: Overdose; antidepressant; poisoning; seizures; serotonin syndrome; toxicity
Copyright Information: © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Funders: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC)
Projects and Grants: NHMRC 10.13039/501100000925, NHMRC 1055176, NHMRC 1061041
Date Deposited: 16 May 2022 02:04
FoR Codes: 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences > 321402 Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics @ 50%
32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences > 321407 Toxicology (incl. clinical toxicology) @ 50%
SEO Codes: 20 HEALTH > 2003 Provision of health and support services > 200311 Urgent and critical care, and emergency medicine @ 100%
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