Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Managing tricyclic antidepressant overdose.

L M Haddad1

  • 1Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Charleston.

American Family Physician
|July 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Resuscitation after nifedipine overdose exclusively with intravenous calcium chloride.

The American journal of emergency medicine·1996
Same author

Marijuana uvula.

The American journal of emergency medicine·1990
Same author

The emergency management of poisoning.

Pediatric annals·1987
Same author

Carbon monoxide poisoning: to transfer or not to transfer?

Annals of emergency medicine·1986
Same author

1978: Cocaine in perspective.

JACEP·1979
Same author

Phenol poisoning.

JACEP·1979
Same journal

For Post-stent Patients With Atherosclerotic Coronary Vascular Disease Who Are Taking an Anticoagulant, Adding Aspirin Worsens Outcomes.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Diagnosis and Management.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Aerobic Exercise Is the Better Exercise Modality for Knee Osteoarthritis.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Overscreening Leads to Overdiagnosis of MASLD.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Type 2 Diabetes: Outpatient Insulin Management.

American family physician·2026
See all related articles

Tricyclic antidepressant overdose is a leading cause of prescription drug fatalities. Prompt treatment, including airway management and alkalinization, is crucial for managing toxicity and preventing fatalities.

Area of Science:

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Clinical Toxicology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose represents a significant cause of mortality from prescription medications.
  • Clinical manifestations of TCA toxicity are diverse, including cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, seizures, coma, and anticholinergic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline the clinical presentation and management of tricyclic antidepressant overdose.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical presentations and established treatment protocols for tricyclic antidepressant overdose.
  • Emphasis on electrocardiogram (ECG) findings, specifically QRS interval prolongation, indicative of high toxicity.
  • Description of therapeutic interventions including airway management, supportive care, and specific pharmacologic treatments.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Lethal TCA levels (greater than 1,000 ng/mL) correlate with ECG changes, notably a QRS interval of 100 milliseconds or more.
  • Effective management involves securing the airway, oxygenation, ventilation, and fluid resuscitation.
  • Alkalinization to a blood pH of 7.5 using intravenous sodium bicarbonate is a key therapeutic strategy.

Conclusions:

  • Tricyclic antidepressant overdose is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate and comprehensive medical intervention.
  • Early recognition of ECG abnormalities is critical for assessing toxicity severity.
  • A multi-faceted treatment approach, including supportive care and specific interventions like alkalinization, improves patient outcomes.