RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Toxicology case of the month: carbamazepine overdose
JF Emergency Medicine Journal
JO Emerg Med J
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 869
OP 871
DO 10.1136/emj.2006.034884
VO 23
IS 11
A1 J Soderstrom
A1 L Murray
A1 M Little
A1 F F S Daly
YR 2006
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/23/11/869.abstract
AB A 29-year-old woman presents shortly after a massive overdose of carbamazepine controlled-release tablets. In anticipation of coma, she is electively intubated to safely enable gastrointestinal decontamination with nasogastric activated charcoal. She is admitted to the intensive care unit for ongoing supportive care, and further doses of activated charcoal are prescribed to enhance elimination of carbamazepine. Carbamazepine levels remain high and haemodialysis is carried out to further enhance elimination. Her coma resolves as levels fall, but clinical progress is complicated by anticholinergic delirium, ileus and bowel obstruction from charcoal concretions. She survives to medical discharge on day 12.