TY - JOUR T1 - Diltiazem overdose: a role for high-dose insulin JF - Emergency Medicine Journal JO - Emerg Med J SP - 802 LP - 803 DO - 10.1136/emj.2009.077347 VL - 27 IS - 10 AU - Neil Abeysinghe AU - Jessica Aston AU - Sonia Polouse Y1 - 2010/10/01 UR - http://emj.bmj.com/content/27/10/802.abstract N2 - A 62-year-old man presented 6 h after a mixed intentional overdose of dilatizem (Adizem-SR), atorvastatin, aspirin and isosorbide mononitrate. He was symptomatic, with vomiting, blurred vision and unsteady gait. Despite initial fluid resuscitation and calcium chloride, glucagon, and high-dose ionotropic therapy, his hypotension remained refractory to treatment. A bolus of high-dose insulin (Actrapid) was administered, followed by a continuous infusion. Glucose was administered to maintain a state of euglycaemia. Over the following 24 h, the patient was given 1140 units of accumulative insulin. This resulted in a significant improvement in arterial blood pressure values and metabolic indices, allowing contiguous weaning off inotropes. This case supports the use of rescue hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemia in patients with an overdose of calcium channel blockers who remain hypotensive despite standard pharmacological measures. ER -