EMERGENCY CASEBOOK

Dolasetron overdose resulting in prolonged QTc interval and severe hypotension: a case report and literature review

Martin Rochford¹, Thomas J Kiernan² and Amjed Aziz³

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
² Department of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
³ Department of Intensive Care, Sutherland Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr M Rochford
4107, 90–98 King St, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; mrochford1{at}hotmail.com

Dolasetron (Anzemet) overdose is uncommon, and, to our knowledge, this is the only case report of an intentional overdose. Dolasetron (dolasetron mesylate) is a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 antagonist derived from pseudopelletierine, and is used in the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting. Transient and asymptomatic ECG changes, including QRS widening and PR and QTc prolongation, have been reported in therapeutic doses. The case of a 21-year-old woman who presented after an intentional overdose of 10x200 mg dolasetron tablets resulting in prolongation of the QTc interval and severe hypotension is reported here. Management of hypotension included intravenous fluid resuscitation and norepinephrine infusion with invasive monitoring in a high dependency unit. Sodium cardiac channel block contributes to cardiotoxicity observed in dolasetron overdose. Sodium bicarbonate was used in an attempt to reduce cardiac sodium channel block, although we observed no apparent benefit. As dolasetron becomes more commonly used in the outpatient setting, both doctors and patients need to be aware of the dangers of dolasetron in toxic doses. The pharmacology and toxicology of dolasetron are discussed.

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Page, C, Isbister, G (2008). Dolasetron and QT interval. Emerg. Med. J. 25: 706-706 [Full Text]  

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Dolasetron and QT Interval

Colin B Page, et al.

EMJ Online, 20 Sep 2007 [Full text]

Response to Page et al

M Rochford, et al.

EMJ Online, 20 Feb 2008 [Full text]