[Non-fatal effect of highly toxic amitriptyline level after suicide attempt. A case report]

Pharmacotherapeutic intervention in psychiatric patients often bears the risk of drug abuse for suicide attempts. Especially intoxication with tricyclic antidepressants, e.g., amitriptyline, may cause severe complications such as cardiac arrhythmia. Even under intensive care conditions, 2-3% of intoxicated patients still die. Here, we report on a depressed female patient who, thanks to timely and intense intervention, survived a suicide attempt with amitriptyline despite highly toxic plasma levels.