[A case of successfully treated nifedipine-poisoning]

Calcium antagonists have been prescribed for treatment of hypertension and several other diseases, and the incidence of poisoning involving these agents is increasing. We encountered and successfully treated a case of nifedipine poisoning. The patient was a 52-year-old man who ingested 76 tablets of nifedipine 20 mg while drinking alcohol. He was brought to a clinic and transferred to our emergency department. Since systolic blood pressure on arrival was 110 mmHg, primary care involved gastric lavage, infusion of lactated Ringer solution, and administration of activated charcoal and cathartics. Hypotension subsequently developed and continuous infusion of dobutamine was initiated. Arrhythmia did not appear during the course of treatment, and the patient was discharged after four days.